Powers John’s Lane

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Powers Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey John’s Lane Release
46% ABV
$65 to $75
Website

What the Distillery Says:
This expression celebrates the origin of the Powers whiskey tradition and provides a glimpse of the whiskey style that made Powers famous. Using a pot still distillate which is true to the original style of John’s Lane, the whiskey has been matured for not less than 12 years, mainly in first fill American bourbon casks, with a small contribution of distillate which has been matured in Oloroso sherry butts.

The result is a Single Pot Still whiskey of outstanding flavour and complexity which provides a fitting tribute to the spiritual home of one of Ireland’s most loved whiskeys.

TASTING NOTES
Nose An abundance of earthy aromas, leather, tobacco with layers of charred wood, dark chocolate and treacle toffee.
Taste Full bodied spice front followed by vanilla, honey and dried apricot.
Finish Lingering honey sweetness on toasted oak.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Warm and inviting. Brown butter sauce and nutty.
Palate: Spicier than a normal Irish dram. Oily and lightly woody. A little orchard fruit but the pepper spiciness overwhelms the other elements.
Finish: Long, dry, and spicy.
Comments: An Irish Mr. Universe? Big, brawny, and ready to kick some ass.
Rating: Must Try

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Green Spot

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$60 to $70
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Produced exclusively for Mitchell & Son. This Single Pot Still Whisky is unique to Ireland.

Nose: Fresh aromatic oils and spices with orchard fruits and barley on a background of toasted wood.

Taste: Full spicy body. A hint of cloves along with the fruity sweetness of green apples, rounded off with toasted oak.

Finish: Lingering flavours of spices and barley.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Peaches, oranges, fresh cut hardwoods, and grainy cereal notes.
Palate: Woody, lightly spiced, and under ripe fruits.
Finish: Wisps of pepper and cereal grains with minty notes. Very light and hardly there.
Comments: Redbreast’s little brother. I had a bottle of Green Spot years ago when it and Redbreast were really the only two left in the single pot still game. I didn’t think too much of it then and not much has changed. It’s a fine whiskey but Redbreast still overshadows the poor dram.
Rating: Stands out

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Jameson Rarest Vintage 2009

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$250 to $300
Website

What the Distillery Says:
A triumph of the collaboration between the Jameson Masters, our hand crafted Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is a true masterpiece. The advanced aged whiskeys in this magnificent reserve are brought together with pot still whiskey that has been matured in hand-picked second fill bourbon casks to create a mellow sweetness in specially commissioned port pipes. The result? Gloriously rich fruit character with an unmistakable barley finish. But don’t take our word for it: this rare blend was voted the world’s best Irish Blended Whiskey at the 2009 World Whiskies Awards.

Tasting Characteristics

Nose: A real full-bodied aroma. Initially sweet with ripe fruit notes of melon, bananas and dark fleshy plums. The unmistakable pot still spicy character combines to give hints of treacle, cinnamon and liquorice.

Taste: A mouthful of flavours. Mellow sweetness and toasted wood are complemented by fruit richness characteristic of the port casks. A touch of creamy dairy fudge and dark chocolate add to the complexity.

Finish: A tantalizingly long finish which covers the spectrum from the sweetness of fruit, through the spices to the unmistakable note of barley, where it all began.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Prunes, fried bananas, pepper, and cinnamon.
Taste: Rich, oily, woody sweetness, dark chocolate, and vanilla.
Finish: The port really shows on the finish. Long, subtle, and cereal notes.
Comments: I sat down with this and the 2009 Midleton’s (yes I’m that kind of whiskey geek) and comparatively this is much more rich and luscious. Easily the best Irish blend I’ve every tasted. This is well balanced with layers of flavor opening one after the other. If this is within your budget for any occasion I would suggest it without the slightest reservation. It’s pricing but you can taste damn near every dollar.
Rating: Must Buy

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Concannon Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Concannon Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$24.99
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Launched in U.S. in early 2012, Concannon Irish Whiskey is the independent spirit of Ireland. Developed as a joint collaboration between Livermore Valley-based Concannon Vineyard and Ireland’s renowned Cooley distillery.
Brand Ambassador and 4th Generation Vintner, John Concannon, is continuing his family’s legacy of blending rich tradition with pioneering innovation with the development of Concannon Irish Whiskey. “Our Irish roots run deep, and entering the Irish Whiskey market symbolizes building an eternal bond with the past by creating a bold, new chapter in our Concannon Family History.” Concannon Irish Whiskey, a special tribute to his Great-Grandfather, James Concannon, in admiration for his adventurous spirit, vision and ambitious endeavors. James Concannon also celebrates his birthday on St. Patrick’s Day.

Concannon Irish Whiskey is a refined blend of malted barley and corn, craft distilled for proper balance of character and purity. It is matured in bourbon barrels for a minimum of four years, then mellowed in Concannon Petite Sirah wine barrels for four months before blending. This is known as the “Concannon Effect”, which gives Concannon Irish Whiskey a uniquely fruity character with a full, clean and balanced taste.

Visual: Light golden wheat color
Nose: Toasted malt, red fruit and vanilla
Palate: Balance of honey sweet, spice, and citrus flavors
Finish: Medium-length. Warming and round, with hint fresh oak.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Malty, buttery and clean with a hint of fresh raked pine needles moist from a recent rain.
Palate: Grassy, and herbaceous, dry with a slightly sharp tannic bite followed by a light honeysuckle sweetness.
Finish: Clean, crisp, and slightly dry. It’s a little easy to forget what you drank.
Comments: This is easily my favorite recent release from Cooley. Those Concannon petite syrah barrels work wonders a 4 year old Cooley spirit.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank the Baddish Group for providing me with a generous review sample.

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Black Maple Hill Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Black Maple Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon
47.5% ABV
$35-$40



What the distillery Says:
(No website but here’s a to Chuck Cowdery’s research into BMH)

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cherries, lavender, oranges, vanilla, fresh cut wood, and strong notes of acetone.
Palate: This is very chewy with an interesting interplay of tart and sweet. The late palate turns savory after rolling it around a bit.
Finish: A little hot and very woody. Seriously woody…like chewing a box of toothpicks plus morning after cigar mouth.
Comments: “The next Pappy Van Winkle” has been said recently. Not even close. Anything you get on the nose is tapered off on the palate and killed on the finish. This bottle of bourbon perplexed me a bit. I remember this being much better than the bottle I bought in 2012.
Rating: Average

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