Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 10 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 to $50
Website
What the Distillery Says:
Triple distilled from 100% malted barely and matured for a minimum of 10 years mainly in Bourbon-seasoned barrels, it has aromas of honey, vanilla and milk chocolate.
Nose: Fresh and zesty. Honey, ripe fruit.
Palate: Soft. Vanilla, milk chocolate and toasted wood.
Finish: Crisp and clean, gentle drying.
What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is light and floral. There is also an odd mix of grass and cocoa. It’s a little like splashing Hershey’s cocoa powder on your face while cutting the lawn.
Palate: It’s kind of light and spicy with a backing sherry note. There is also something that tastes slightly burnt.
Finish: Delicate, smooth, and slightly creamy with a little oak at the end.
Comments: This is one of those whiskeys where I think it’s me not them. I know Bushmills didn’t change. I changed. I used to like this one a lot more than I do now. It’s not bad. It’s easily drinkable and not terribly expensive if you can find it around $40. I’ve just come to expect a little more from my whiskey than this one brings to table.
Rating: Average
Tags: Bushmills 10 Year Old
Here’s a little something for our Midwest readers:
Midwest Smoke Out embodies luxury lifestyle for whisky, cigar enthusiasts
March 20, 2012 – Hammond, Ind., USA – For decades, whisky and cigars have long been appreciated for their complementary natures, signified worldwide as trademarks of power and influence. Only those who appreciate beauty and luxury can truly enjoy the subtle complexities inherent within each indulgence. They both speak of living the high life that we have worked to attain and enjoy just as deeply. When combining the different facets of similar pleasure, the essentials complement each other and create a deeper experience than they would separately.
Just one event in the Midwest unites the two luxuries and endows its partakers with a strong appreciation of decadence. On April 19, the only place to be is at The Venue in Hammond, Ind., from 5 to 10 p.m. as the Midwest Smoke Out ignites the spark of pleasure. The Midwest Smoke Out fuses gourmet delicacies, premium beer, celebration of sportsman accomplishments, magnificent cars, and, naturally, fine whisky with world-class cigars.
This is the philosophy behind the Midwest Smoke Out: to create, combine, complement, and impact pleasure-seekers, making them experience deeper luxury.
The heady evening is set against a backdrop of gaming tables and elegance, promising pure indulgence. Meet fellow bon viveurs throughout the throng while sipping Macallan and Jack Daniels, among many other fine spirits. Moments captured bonding over the honey-vanilla notes and the silky smoke can turn strangers into friends, associates into partners, or ignite a smoldering spark. With the blend of sweet cigar smoke and the delicious burn of oak intoxicating the senses, the Midwest Smoke Out overwhelms those who truly appreciate the finer tastes in this life. Those willing to experience unadulterated enjoyment receive 14 free cigars and the opportunity to mingle with worldwide cigar legends. To pamper visiting epicures, Schepel Cadillac will give away a cigar cutter, Humidipak is giving away a humidor bag, Calumet Harley-Davidson is showcasing four motorcycles, Ping and Balmoral Woods are presenting a simulator and custom club fitting, Albert’s Jewelers will give vouchers for $50 off a $100 purchase, The Little Guys Home Technologies will raffle off a 32″ HDTV Flat Panel TV and Deer Creek Hunt Club will raffle off a one-year clay shooting membership.
Whisky, cigars, decadence and luxury coalesce at the Midwest Smoke Out creating an unforgettable experience for anyone who considers themselves a lover of life’s finer things. Attendance space is limited, and previous years’ expos have completely sold out in advance, so explore www.MidwestSmokeOut.com to reserve your ticket for indulgence today.
It sounds like this will be a blast. Check it out if you can and report back to us here at Whisk(e)y Apostle.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
Bushmills Irish Whiskey 1608 Anniversary Edition
46% ABV/92 Proof
$75 to $100
Website
What the Distillery Says:
In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the original licence to distil granted to the Bushmills area, the Bushmills Distillery has released a special, limited edition whiskey, Bushmills 1608.
True to the history of Ireland’s oldest working whiskey distillery, Bushmills 1608 is a unique blend of tradition and innovation. It combines some classic features of our whiskeys (such as triple distillation, the use of fully malted barley or maturation in the finest quality oak casks) with a pioneering process: it was distilled using crystal malt, a special type of malted barley selected to deliver exceptional smoothness.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Honey, fresh cut grass, dry autumn leaves, sherry notes, and smores (chocolate marshmellow graham cracker sandwiches for our non-U.S. readers)
Palate: It’s very nutty and I also get notes of very high cacao dark chocolate. It’s like an 85% cacao Mr. Goodbar.
Finish: Cracked black pepper and an almost rye-like spicy note. The finish is rather long with lots of oak and chalk. Meh.
Comments: The palate on this one perplexes me. I like what the crystal malt and higher proof do to the viscosity and mouth feel of Bushmills but I’m just not sold on the taste. Combine that with the so so finish and I’m not a big a fan. It is different and tasty in it’s own way but there are other Bushmills expressions out there that are better for the same or less money. I can’t say this is one you have to try.
Rating: Stands Out
Tags: Bushmills 1608
How’s this for an idea? Let’s pull together a tasting of three versions of the finest post still Irish whiskey available in the U.S. and top it off with arguably the best standard production Irish blend in the world. Oh, and why don’t we let people taste this flight of whiskeys that would retail for over $350 for $32 in a nice laid back pub atmosphere. Does that sound good? Well, that’s what Mac McGee is doing on March 13th. Here are the details…
Who: Mac McGee Irish Pub
Where: 111 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA 30030
When: Tuesday, March 13th at 7:30PM
Pour: Redbreast 12 Yr, Redbreast 12 Yr Cask Strength, Redbreast 15 Yr, and Midleton Very Rare 2011
Price: $32
RSVP: 404-377-8050
Tags: Atlanta Irish Whiskey Tasting, Atlanta Whiskey Tasting, Irish whiskey tasting, Mac McGee Irish Pub, Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast 12 Year Old, Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength, Redbreast 15 Year Old
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