Irish Whiskey - 15th November - 7pm (GMT)

[Novice Scotch Fan]

I am the novice here tonight. All I have for Irish whiskey is Bushmills Original. It reminds me of a Lowland scotch like Auchentoshans.

Anyway, here's the tasting note:

Nose: Hot chocolate.

Palate: A nutty flavour chased by maple syrup flavoured porridge, which plateaus into lightly sugared short bread cookie.

Finish: a little zing of dark chocolate and malt that lingers ever so briefly.

This is totally inoffensive stuff, as you know, and great stuff obviously to drink with friends where the primary objective is great conversation and memories.

As I have said before, like the Irish people, you cant help but like this stuff. Yes, it is not complex, and all that connosieur stuff, but hey, its a party time dram!

[Wave]

Starting off with

Bushmills 10yo Single Malt

N: Shortbread and sherry hints, muffled vanilla
P: copperish and semi-sweet, slightly spicy.
F: Medium length with a flash of sweetness then drying.

Old bottle?

Cheers!

[pkt77242]

I have two to try for the tasting, Jameson's 12yo and Connemara CS.

I think I will start with the Jamesons 12yo.

N:A little sherry, some tart apple, and some spice.
T: some sherry, spice, apple and some pear.
F: medium length, spice, and just a hint of sweetness and cinnamon.

Sean

[Wave]

Off to Jameson Irish Whiskey NAS (Courtesy of Ryguy )

N: Digestive biscuits, graham crackers and ginger snaps
P: Spicy with shortbread, full.
F: Long and sweet, Icecream waffle cones

Nice!

Cheers!

[cathach]

Jameson Signature Rserve notes below. Cheers to IWC for the sample and Collctor57 for the Connemara sample above!

Sorry the tasting notes didn't upload.

Jameson Signature Reserve NAS 40%

Nose: Very similar to regular Jameson, sweet and wine with some oily pure pot still.

Palate: What a let down! Almost as if they took regular Jameson and watered it down. The grain element is true neutral spirit and the linseed and spice of the pure poot still is so much static in the background.

Finish: A hint of tangy maltiness that fades in an instant.

Comments: The label has a load of rubbish about it being true to the tradition of maturing pure pot still in sherry casks but it doesn't bear out in the product. If you want it go to Redbreast 12. I don't know why they bothered making it at all.

[pkt77242]

Now onto the Connemara CS.

N: Peat, smoke, vanilla, and a hint of lemongrass.
P: Peat, pear and some graininess (barley?)
F: lots of lemon, and lemon custard.

I like this one but is the 12yo in the same vein?

Sean

[cathach]

The 12yo is similar but different. It's a lot more restrained and balanced and it's bottled @ 40%. I don'y know if it's chill-filtered or not. It's a lovely malt and I'm a great fan but it's very expensive for what it is. The CS is much better value IMHO esp. as the 12yo is $100 in the U.S.!!

[pkt77242]

The 12yo is similar but different. It's a lot more restrained and balanced and it's bottled @ 40%. I don'y know if it's chill-filtered or not. It's a lovely malt and I'm a great fan but it's very expensive for what it is. The CS is much better value IMHO esp. as the 12yo is $100 in the U.S.!!

Thank you Cathach.

[pkt77242]

I am finishing my Connemara CS with some dried pear slices. This is a wonderful combo, it accentuates the peatiness.

Sean

[Wave]

Up next, Redbreast 12yo Courtesy of Ryguy

N: Quite different than the last two. Initially pears then apples and some distant smoke
P: Light nutmeg and lightly sweetened with a bit of bite
F: Long and warming, sweet and salty, even slightly chewy!
Another dandy from Ryguy!

Cheers!

[Jobi]

I ended up hosting some family tonight, so I'm a little restrained. I'm still drinking Irish, just not being as reflective as I could be. Some quick notes on the first few:

Jameson NAS
Nose: metallic, young, some sweetness trying to come through (succeeds a bit after a few minutes)

Taste: much of the same, maybe the sweetness shines more (or possibly just a function of the delay between nosing and tasting?)

Having finally tried Powers, it's unlikely that I'll drink Jameson NAS very often again.

Bushmills 1608
Nose: malty, oaky and slightly spicy. A little yeasty? Also a pleasant something that I can only descibe as modeling clay from art class. I've come across the clay smell before but haven't yet found a better way to describe it.

Taste: a nice bit of spiciness and sweetness.

A pleasant whisky that took a few tries to grow on me. Wish I had the ability to differentiate between Crystal malt and ordinary malt...

Redbreast 12
Nose: vanilla sweetness, mild stewed fruits, some sherry hints. Layered. That art class clay note again. My immmediate thought was that it reminded me of the sweet notes I get from the Ardbeg Beist nose.

Taste: oily, smooth, big

Very easy to drink this a lot.

I hope to be back later with some thoughts on Greenspot, Connemara CS and Midleton VR.

[Wave]

Now for Connemara NAS

N:
P:
F:

I don't know if it's just disagreeing with the last two Irish's or gone bad,
I'll have to taste this one again later.

Cheers!

[Wave]

Wow! Now I need something extra primo after that disaster! so without further ado....
Cooley 1993 nas Murray McDavid Irish Peated Bloodtub Valinch 58.5% ABV

C: Walnut
N: Prunes and raisins in clove and nutmeg, pecan pie
P: Mouth-coating, pralines 'n' cream and medium peat smoke, tons of depth!
F: Looooonnnnnggg and chewy sweet with just the lightest touches of salt ending on some nice sherry notes.

One of my favorite whiskies, period! I'll be sad when this one ends!


Cheers!

[Jobi]

A couple more quick notes:

Greenspot
Nose: younger than the RB 12, bolder, oakier, more potstill-y? Fresh and clean.

Taste: thick, oaky, same boldness as the nose

Connemarra CS 57.9%
Nose: nice smoke, underlying vanilla
Taste: the high ABV is apparent, as is the nice smoke, some hints of ripe fruit.

Certainly not what I of think of with Irish, but a great whiskey


I'm not going to be able to get to the Midleton VR tonight, but from memory:
yummy, smooth as silk, and oh so drinkable


Goodnight and enjoy your Irish.

[cathach]

Thank you Cathach.

No problem I hope I've been of some assistance. If you pm me you address I can drop you a sample of an older peated Cooley when I next open one.

IB First Spirits 8yo peated Cooley 46%

Nose: Tangy fruit character with peatsmoke behind it.

Palate: Tarry, with a real medicinal tang

Finish: The ovveripe peardrop flavour come through and fades after a while. Long enough finish actually

Comments: Excellent stuff and hard to believe it's only an 8yo, a great mix of peat and the fruity distillery character.

[Matt2]

Great notes, hope the live tasting pages worked a bit better, and I think the tasting notes bbcode has been fixed if you want to use it... (Although I'm sure one member will manage to break it )

Remind me to get some Connemara, it doesn't last long round here.

[Ryguy]

Great notes everyone, very well done. I had family party to attend on Saturday, plus we had relatives staying at the house over the weekend, so I was a bit taken away.

I suspect once everything is back to normal, Ganga, Mikey & I will add our notes in, I do have quite a few to taste, with more on the way.

[Ganga]

Definitely Ryan. And if I start noting a "chariness" to the whiskies please forgive me as it is likely that the wind kicked up again.

[Ryguy]

Definitely Ryan. And if I start noting a "chariness" to the whiskies please forgive me as it is likely that the wind kicked up again.

Charred whisky is good too,,,but not in this case.

[mikeymad]

Maybe Ryguy, ganga, lohssanami, and I should schedule a mini tasting so that we can finish out thie thread with additional notes.

Cheers,

[Ryguy]

Maybe Ryguy, ganga, lohssanami, and I should schedule a mini tasting so that we can finish out thie thread with additional notes.

Cheers,

Yes indeed, most definitely, we'll get together to finish this one out. Sorry lohssanami, I didn't mean to forget about you!!

[TheTross]

Many, many apologies for not getting round to all the samples I was sent for the tasting. I simply ran out of steam on Saturday/Sunday morning after the first few

In continuation:

Connemara CS (57.9%, OB)

Colour: White wine

Nose: Peat, ground white pepper, mint and a little honey. Lots of lemon after a few minutes in the glass. Also some manure and medicinal notes (iodine, bandages). Something meaty drifts in and out sporadically. Very subtle oak notes.

Palate: Oily but soft. Peat, lemon, a little pepper and maybe a a tad oaky. Medicinal again. Hints of rubber.

Finish: Lots of mint, pepper and peat, with a much softer, honeyed touch coming through straight after. Faintly rubbery. The peat sticks around, with iodine making a welcome late appearance. Citrus brings up the rear much later.


One of my favourite Irish whiskeys to date. This is an absolute belter; I love the medicinal profile in particular! As a Scotch drinker it uncannily reminds me very much of a cross between Caol Ila and Ardbeg.

Many thanks to C57 for the sample!

[TheTross]

???? (?, ?) - A mystery malt courtesy of cathach

Colour: Dark gold

Nose: Lots of sherry character but not in the slightest bit vinous. Floral, with a faint hint of lavender. Chocolate (Galaxy!) and cocoa. Dark fruits, dark chocolate orange. Blackcurrants. Very velvety and delicate!

Palate: More floral than the nose suggests, but again with a very slight touch of lavender. Weak blackcurrant cordial. Also a faint hint of earth and tobacco smoke at times. Quite hot if left for too long.

Finish: A little mint. Then it's all about blackcurrant cordial and blackcurrant throat lozenges.


I'm stunned. This is bloody marvellous whiskey. It has one of the best noses I've ever experienced, and although the palate is a little too floral for me it's extremely soft, well balanced and very, very moreish. The finish is something I've never come across before; virtually all blackcurrant!

Which begs the question: Micheál, what on earth is this, and is it readily available???

[DavidH]

Ah, the Tyrconnell Ribena finish

I'm very curious to hear what this is myself!

[TheTross]

Ok, last one from me!

Locke's 8yo (40%, OB)

Colour: Gold

Nose: Very fruity, with peach, melon, orange, lemon, rhubarb and green banana standing out. Honey. Notes of custard, peat and yeast.

Palate: Fruity again (mainly melon). A little vanilla.

Finish: Galia melon skin!! A very faint grassiness, but it's mainly about the fruit again.


A very fruity whiskey, but I couldn't detect anything else of significance and really struggled with describing the palate. Not for me I'm afraid - just far too fruity.


Thanks once again to cathach for the sample

[cathach]

No bother. The Locke's 8yo was evrybody else's bonus malt. Your ???? malt was in fact Redbreast 15yo. I was very curious to see what a Scotch drinker would make of a pure pot still in a blind tasting. You don't think it too devious of me I hope!!

[TheTross]

cathach, I'm speechless. Never in a million years would I have imagined having the chance to try Redbreast 15.

And devious? Er... possibly

But I really do appreciate having been given the opportunity to try such a legendary whiskey. Thank you.

[UUNetBill]

I, too, was overcome by events this past Saturday - and I have several different Irish left to try. If you gentlemen do decide to schedule a mini-tasting, please post the date/time here so I can pop in if possible.

Thanks to all who posted - I definitely found some new drams to track down and try!

Bill

[Ryguy]

I, too, was overcome by events this past Saturday - and I have several different Irish left to try. If you gentlemen do decide to schedule a mini-tasting, please post the date/time here so I can pop in if possible.

Thanks to all who posted - I definitely found some new drams to track down and try!

Bill

Definitely..will do Bill!

[cathach]

Thank God!!! The Cooley 16yo fianlly came to me today! Chhers Willie.

[Willie JJ]

I'm glad its finally arrived Micheál. I hope you enjoy it after that wait.

Cheers

[TheTross]

Thanks for the Cooley Willie, also got it in the post early this afternoon. Was a complete surprise; you never said you were sending me a sample!

Think I'll be adding another note to this thread tonight

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Hi Willie, I got mine also ... what a belter

Totally in the style of all the cadenheads I've had so far. It strikes me as strange that the cadenhead stuff is quite different to the Connemara stuff. Comes across as much stronger and powerful. Will give my notes after I properly investigate the sample

[TheTross]

Cooley 16yo (57.4%, Cadenhead)

Nose: Soft and honeyed to begin with, with lots of vanilla, but then a little peat arises and it becomes quite meaty - barbequed ribs? A hefty whack of oak and wood smoke. Lightly salted. Some fruit develops after a short while, along with a faint bourbon character bubbling in the background.

Palate: Velvety-soft mouthfeel. Honeyed. Again, a fair amount of peat and smoke and again fairly meaty. A firm, but never overbearing oaky presence. Lots of all kinds of fruit this time. A little salty.

Finish: Immediately fruity and honeyed, with faint yeasty notes, but it almost instantly reverts to the peat, smoke, oak and meat character. A little mint appears shortly after, with notes of vanilla ice-cream bringing up the rear.


I was actually taken aback by this. I've always associated Irish whiskey as being soft, light and gentle; this is anything but that, with peat, meat and lots of smoke blasting about the senses. The honey and fruit keep that nicely in check though, keeping things well balanced. This is really, really good stuff.

Many thanks to Willie JJ for the sample!

[cathach]

Cooley 16yo (57.4%, Cadenhead)

Nose: Round fruit but with with a real whack of woodsmoke. Also slightly astringent.

Palate: Round and very full as you'd expect from a CS whiskey, and with a real pluminess.I found a real tarry or medicinal flvour that I quite enjoyed.

Finish: Sweet but with a dry tar finish.

I really liked this. It's a very much amped-up version of the distillery bottlings of its' single casks. The fruit character and richness of the distillery's character is very well matched by the peat influence. Great wood management too I think.



Many thanks to Willie JJ for the sample.