Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 21 Years 40% ABV $120 Website What the Distillery Says: “This rare whiskey is in scarce supply with only a limited number of casks in our warehouses. It’s matured in bourbon and sherry barrels for 21 years‚ before being married together for two years in a madeira-infused cask. The result is dark chocolate and caramelised toffee aromas and a sip that clings to the palate before releasing a magical burst like mint. It’s a rare taste in every serve.”
NOSE: Caramelised toffee and dark chocolate. TASTE: Wow! rich raisins and fruity notes that cling to the palate. FINISH: A burst of mint that ends in an intense liquorice finale.
What Richard Says: Nose: Nutty and spiciness with a toffee back note. As it opens it reminds me of walking through a pine forest after a rain storm. Palate: Rich with a lovely depth. The dried stone fruit notes play well with the influence of the fortified wine wood. Finish: Herbal with a large presence of wet wood. Fresh split wet pine and wet toothpicks. It’s tart with something reminiscent of plain Milkbone dog treats. Comments: To me this is a huge step up from the 16 year old. Also, I think for being in the range of $120 I think it is still a solid value in aged Irish whiskey. Definitely give this one a try if you come across. If you’re like me you many not be able to go back down range from Bushmills after having this. Rating: Must Try
Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Aged 21 Years 46% ABV $250 to $320 Website What the Distillery Says: Redbreast 21 Year Old is the finest representation of the signature Redbreast sherry style. It is the oldest and richest expression of the Redbreast style ever produced; and the 21 year ageing process introduces new levels of depth, flavour and taste to create an inherently complex and ultimately, rewarding whiskey.
Nose: Remarkable aroma spanning fresh tropical fruits, nuts and rich dried fruit. Taste: Soft vanilla, toasted oak, sherry nuttiness with a dusting of Pot Still spices. Luscious fleshy fruit notes complete the creamy mouthfeel. Finish: Lingers, seemingly forever, to oak and Pot Still spices and then, the final bow from barley – where it all began.
What Richard Says: Nose: Weird first niff of spearmint and rubberbands. What was that? Let it open a bit and it’s a great waft of dried fruit and roasted nuts. Palate: Spicy with a rich stewed cherry flavor that then dives back into more nuts, raw this time. Backing it all is a present but well balanced oak flavor interlaced with subtle sherry influence. Finish: It finishes very cereal like with raw wet wood and a very present tartness. Comments: Great Irish, really great Irish. This one is a benchmark for aged pot still whiskey. My only fault with it is the price. When it came out a little over a year ago it was published at $180 by trade publications but I’ve never seen it retail for less than $250. I once heard a rumor of a $215 bottle. I respect the whiskey and Irish Distillers for growing the pot still category but it’s coming out of the gate at inflated Macallan-esque pricing. If it was sub $200 it would be an easy must buy. However, I had to get “my guy” to procure me one to get it for under $300 recently. As good as this is, there is a lot of great whiskey out there for less than $300. Rating: Must Try
40% ABV $80-$85 Website What the Distiller Says: “Well‚ it takes a special dedication to create the Bushmills 16 year-old‚ that and lots of patience. Two whiskies are matured for 16 years‚ one in a bourbon barrel and the other in sherry‚ and then they are married together in a sweet port infused cask. It’s a marriage made in heaven!” – Master Distiller Colum Egan
NOSE: Aromatic nose with hints of almonds and a nutty sweetness TASTE: A warm port sweetness on the back of the throat that drifts up to form an almond‚ marzipan fusion with hints of Honey beehoney and praline FINISH: Deep‚ jammy and dark chocolate.
Recommended Serving: 45mls Bushmills 16 Year-Old. (1.5 oz) 1 Whiskey Glass A drop of water
What Richard Says:
Nose: It starts out abrupt and a little meaty. From there it is grainy with a heavy focus toward cereal grains. The wood interplay is interesting. It get a heave sherry background that is trying to fight through the port. I’m undecided if it works or not. Palate: The flavor is clean, mellow, and inoffensive. Rolling it around I get crisp apples, toasted pine nuts, an a cereal back. The flavors aren’t particularly bold but this is ridiculously drinkable. Finish: It comes on delicate and slow but rather elegant. There is almost no finish at first but the port wood slowly creeps in and guides you out. Comments: Nose….meh. Everything else….great! This would be a “drinker’s dram” in my book. By that I mean that it is not for those that want to spend the evening with their noses in their glasses waxing poetic. Rather, it is a great dram if yo uwna tto sit with some friends and just enjoy some good whiskey. I also feel compelled to own up to something. This is a dram I had to spend a lot of time with. It is really a mood dram for me. If I’m in the mood I love it and review accordingly. If I force then I don’t respond as well. What you see above is the combination of those two experiences.
Rating: Stands Out
What Gary Says
Nose: Soft, fruity and floral with with subtle dark fruits, honey, and hint of the port pipe. Palate: Sweet, with soft fruit notes, honey, raisins, almonds, praline, bit of chocolate and a slight pepper spice. Finish: Moderately long, slightly drying with honeyed fruit and milk chocolate. Comments: This is a significant step up from the 10 year. I agree with Richard that this is ridiculously drinkable – although I’ll bet this would be a LOT better at a higher ABV. Still pretty solid in terms of flavor density. When Richard reviewed this in 2014, it was $80 – $85. In 2020 here in Atlanta, this is over $120. It is still a solid single malt – but overpriced in my book.
Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey Special Reserve Aged 12 Years 40% ABV $35-$50 Website What the Distiller Says: Powers 12 Year Old Special Reserve was launched in 2000. It retains the classic Powers’ spicy, honeyed, full-bodied flavour, enhanced and enriched by years of extra aging in carefully selected American oak barrels. It is best enjoyed neat or with a little water.
Nose Spicy, honeyed, with a touch of perfumed oils, it is full-bodied and flavoursome.
Taste The familiar taste of Ireland’s favourite whiskey is enhanced by long ageing to reveal a spicy complexity and additional velvet smoothness.
Finish The velvet smoothness is finished with a distinguishing touch of gentle woodiness.
What Richard Says: Nose: The nose is light and floral but it has a hearty backbone that foretells the high pot still content. There is also a slight sherry back note as the nose opens up. This one is a little coy and evasive. Palate: The whiskey is creamy and approachable. It reminds me of a light vanilla custard or honey drizzled yogurt. As it coats the mouth a flavor of overripe pears comes out. Finish: This is very dry with surprising hit of burnt peppercorns and wood. Comments: The finish is a little surprising and off-putting on this one. It doesn’t seem to flow from the palate like the nose to palate transition. It is more of an abrupt about-face. This is still a very drinkable and enjoyable whiskey but the finish make syou want to keep drinking to avoid the finish. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Rating: Stands Out
2 Gingers Irish Whiskey 40% ABV $19.99 Website What the Distiller Says: 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey – the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* from the award-winning Kilbeggan Distilling Co.™ – has grown beyond its Minnesota roots and is now officially available across the United States. The brand has experienced exponential growth, expanding from limited Midwest markets one year ago to all 50 states this month.
2 GINGERS® Founder and CEO Kieran Folliard, former owner of one of the country’s top-selling Irish whiskey pubs, originally created the whiskey and its signature cocktail, the BIG GINGER®, with inspiration from his mother and aunt – the two fiery gingers (red-heads) featured on the bottle. Backed by Folliard’s passion and category expertise, 2 GINGERS® has quickly become the fastest growing Irish whiskey in the U.S.* since its launch in 2011. After experiencing remarkable popularity and success among women and men within limited regional markets in 2013, the premium blended whiskey – aged 4 years and double-distilled – has increased distribution once more, this time expanding nationwide.
“At its heart, 2 GINGERS® is about following up on a hunch and pursuing your dreams,” said Folliard, who is soon hitting the road in a custom 2 GINGERS® trailer that, like any Irish pub, will ring with stories (most of them true) in cities across the country. “We hope to encourage others to pursue their dreams, to demonstrate what we stand for and to pose the question: ‘Why not try something big?’”
Beam Inc. (NYSE:BEAM) acquired 2 GINGERS® in December 2012, and since that time has rapidly expanded distribution. To support the national launch, Folliard will use the customized 2 GINGERS® trailer to meet with bartenders, distributors and consumers looking to discover the BIG GINGER® cocktail in stops from coast to coast, including: Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, Hoboken, NJ, New Orleans, LA, Dallas, TX, Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN, St. Louis, MO, Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH.
2 GINGERS® is a smooth, malty and slightly sweet premium, blended Irish whiskey. Distilled with mixability in mind, the brand created and trademarked two balanced and simple cocktails, the BIG GINGER® and SKINNY GINGER®. Genderless and appropriate for all seasons, these cocktails combine the refreshing bite of ginger ale with the caramel, vanilla and citrus undertones of 2 GINGERS®, creating the perfect recipe for anyone who may not yet consider themselves whiskey drinkers.
What Richard Says: Nose: Out of the bottle there is a heavy malty/hoppy note reminiscent of cheaper American lager or IPA. As the nose mellow it’s lighter and more like honeysuckle with a vegetal herb mixture. Palate: Light with hints of honey and vanilla almond milk fading to a spicy and grassy taste. Finish: The finish is a little raw and the place where the whiskey shows it’s youth. Comments: Not a bad whiskey at all. This is clearly Cooley product. It think I could be a better “neat sipper” with some ago on it but they are pushing it as a mixer. With some ginger ale it is quite refreshing. Rating: Average
We would like to thank Rueben his team at DBC PR for the review sample provided.
Recommended Cocktails:
BIG GINGER® 2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey Ginger Ale Lemon Wedge Lime Wedge METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.
SKINNY GINGER® 2 parts 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey Diet Ginger Ale Lemon Wedge Lime Wedge METHOD: Pour the 2 GINGERS® Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with diet ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.
