Irish Whiskey

Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask
Irish Single Malt Whiskey

Flaviar’s Bushmills “Rare Cask Series” Tasting Box
Sample ‘B’

50% ABV
Bushmills Potential Rare Cask Bottle
We would like to thank Flaviar and Bushmills  for the opportunity to try these rare whiskies!
NOTE: The samples were provided as part of a lottery through my personal Flaviar membership, and not provided directly for purposes of a review.

Wait – What is This?

In the summer/fall of 2020, Flaviar offered an opportunity to members to enter a lottery, the winners of which would have the opportunity to sample some rare Bushmills and vote on what would be the next ‘Rare Cask’. I was fortunate enough to be picked to participate, and received a 5 sample kit from Flaviar which included:

  • Bushmills 10 yr Single Malt
  • Bushmills 16 yr Single Malt
  • Sample A (Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask, 1992)
  • Sample B (Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask, 1995)
  • Sample C (Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt, 1997)

Flaviar stated that they would announce the winner with Bushmills. If that happened, I missed it (and as of Feburary 2022, Bushmill’s website only lists the initial Rare Cask release – although I saw some stores that had labels for ‘Rare Case 02’, so not sure if they released it quietly, or if they planned to but then changed course, or what happened). Regardless, I was waiting for such an announcement before posting these reviews – but as that may never happen – here they are!

The details below were compiled from what was provided by Flaviar with the samples, and the NightCap Live streaming event they hosted – which included the Bushmills brand ambassador Jack Ferris who provided additional details about the whiskies.

Includes whiskey first matured in bourbon casks for 10 years and Oloroso sherry casks for 10 years, combined and finished in Marsala casks for 14-15 years. Has notes of dried fruits, bit of anise, and more viscous sweetness.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, Marsala wine, honey, figs, dates, roasted walnuts, oak, tapioca, nutmeg, subtle cinnamon.
Palate:  Thick and rich mouthfeel, honey with spices, nutty, slight pepper bite, brown sugar, bit of tobacco, orange, apricots.
Finish:  Long with honeyed ginger and tobacco.
Comments:  An amazing dram (if you like Marsala, which I do – in fact this is only the 2nd whisk(e)y I’ve had with a Marsala cask maturation)! Compared to Sample A (28 yr PX Sherry Cask), this was more spicy, which I like. Love the high ABV and non-chill filtering, which is evident in the mouthfeel. This is the sample I voted for the next Bushmills Rare Cask offering, as I think we need more Marsala maturation offerings, and it is really delicious.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt
Irish Single Malt Whiskey

Flaviar’s Bushmills “Rare Cask Series” Tasting Box
Sample ‘C’

50% ABV
Bushmills Potential Rare Cask Bottle
We would like to thank Flaviar and Bushmills  for the opportunity to try these rare whiskies!
NOTE: The samples were provided as part of a lottery through my personal Flaviar membership, and not provided directly for purposes of a review.

Wait – What is This?

In the summer/fall of 2020, Flaviar offered an opportunity to members to enter a lottery, the winners of which would have the opportunity to sample some rare Bushmills and vote on what would be the next ‘Rare Cask’. I was fortunate enough to be picked to participate, and received a 5 sample kit from Flaviar which included:

  • Bushmills 10 yr Single Malt
  • Bushmills 16 yr Single Malt
  • Sample A (Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask, 1992)
  • Sample B (Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask, 1995)
  • Sample C (Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt, 1997)

Flaviar stated that they would announce the winner with Bushmills. If that happened, I missed it (and as of Feburary 2022, Bushmill’s website only lists the initial Rare Cask release – although I saw some stores that had labels for ‘Rare Case 02’, so not sure if they released it quietly, or if they planned to but then changed course, or what happened). Regardless, I was waiting for such an announcement before posting these reviews – but as that may never happen – here they are!

The details below were compiled from what was provided by Flaviar with the samples, and the NightCap Live streaming event they hosted – which included the Bushmills brand ambassador Jack Ferris who provided additional details about the whiskies.

23 yr old Crystal Malt; allegedly this is one of Helen Mulholland’s (Bushmill’s Master Blender) favorites.  They distilled this back in 1997 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Bushmills in 2008 – a one-time production run.  But, they didn’t use all of the whiskey, and left a bit to age longer.  Crystal malt is unusual for whiskey (usually used in beer), and is made by taking barley with a high moisture content and putting it through a deep roast which crystallizes the grain and enhances the natural sugars.  This was aged in a first fill bourbon barrel.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Light, cotton candy, fresh cut apples, pears, hint of lavender and rose petals.
Palate:  Sweet with butterscotch, brown sugar, honey, chocolate, chili spice notes and baked apples.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with honey and spice.
Comments:  If I was given this blind to nose, I might have guessed it was a single grain whisky – it has that gentle, delicateness I associate with that style. On the palate it had a spicy bite that was a (pleasant) surprise! Of the 3 samples in the running for the next Bushmills Rare Cask, I found this much more mild and nuanced – although because of that it was my least favorite. Having said that, nothing at all objectionable and I’d certainly not turn away a pour if offered!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask
Irish Single Malt Whiskey

Flaviar’s Bushmills “Rare Cask Series” Tasting Box
Sample ‘A’

53% ABV
Bushmills Potential Rare Cask Bottle
We would like to thank Flaviar and Bushmills  for the opportunity to try these rare whiskies!
NOTE: The samples were provided as part of a lottery through my personal Flaviar membership, and not provided directly for purposes of a review.

Wait – What is This?

In the summer/fall of 2020, Flaviar offered an opportunity to members to enter a lottery, the winners of which would have the opportunity to sample some rare Bushmills and vote on what would be the next ‘Rare Cask’. I was fortunate enough to be picked to participate, and received a 5 sample kit from Flaviar which included:

  • Bushmills 10 yr Single Malt
  • Bushmills 16 yr Single Malt
  • Sample A (Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask, 1992)
  • Sample B (Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask, 1995)
  • Sample C (Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt, 1997)

Flaviar stated that they would announce the winner with Bushmills. If that happened, I missed it (and as of Feburary 2022, Bushmill’s website only lists the initial Rare Cask release – although I saw some stores that had labels for ‘Rare Case 02’, so not sure if they released it quietly, or if they planned to but then changed course, or what happened). Regardless, I was waiting for such an announcement before posting these reviews – but as that may never happen – here they are!

The details below were compiled from what was provided by Flaviar with the samples, and the NightCap Live streaming event they hosted – which included the Bushmills brand ambassador Jack Ferris who provided additional details about the whiskies.

PX Cask, 28 years old, filled in 1992.  This isn’t a PX Cask ‘finish’ – it spent all 28 years in a PX Sherry cask and has toffee notes, dried fruit.  Noted that the sherry casks are toasted compared to bourbon casks which are charred.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, dark fruit with cherries and raisins, musky oak, vanilla, hint of barbecue, bitter orange, clove, pipe tobacco, honey, a bit of molasses.
Palate:  Thick and rich mouthfeel, heavy sweetness, fruitcake soaked in fine Irish whiskey, vanilla, toffee, cloves, nutmeg, dark chocolate.
Finish:  Long with lingering clove, cocoa and coffee notes.
Comments:  This is a really delicious dram, and was tough to not select in the voting. Just an exceptional, well aged single malt that is rich, thick and luscious. This takes water well, bringing more honey, fruit and chocolate notes. I love that this sample was at a high ABV, and it was non-chill filtered. While this didn’t get my vote, I would hardly be disappointed if this won as it is a truly delightful pour.

Rating: Must Try

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Jameson Bow Street 18 Years

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Jameson Bow Street 18 Years
Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

55.3% ABV
$170-$190
Website
Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Cask Strength

What the Distillery Says

A special place in our hearts required a whiskey to match.
Jameson Bow Street 18 Years is a special blend of rare pot still and grain Irish whiskeys produced at the Midleton distillery. After ageing for almost two decades, these whiskeys are married together and spend their final finishing period in our original home, at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street in Dublin.

Launched in 2018, this whiskey is our rarest release and is bottled once per year, at cask strength.

Nose: Rich wood-driven influence with deep toffee notes and spice.
Taste: Toffee and oak remain consistent with hints of leather and vanilla along with a subtle sherry nuttiness creating depth and complexity.
Finish: Long and full with the sweet toffee notes slowly fading while the toasted oak and spice linger throughout until the very end.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, angel food cake, soft oak, honey, almonds, floral, bit of leather and milk chocolate.
Palate:  Toffee, honey, oak, sherry notes of raisins, milk chocolate, caramel, spicy with clove and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, nutty with caramel and spices.
Comments:  The grain component in this blend shines through. Water thickens this nicely, and brings out more malty grain notes (but don’t get me wrong – it doesn’t come across as ‘young’) and tamps some of the spiciness. I liked this one more each time I went back to sample it. Not sure I like it enough to shell out the coin (although I still kinda regret not buying a cask strength Jameson when visiting their visitor center in Dublin; this really does shine at the higher ABV).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Green Spot 1991 26 Year Old Marsala Cask

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Green Spot 1991 26 Year Old Marsala Cask
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
The Whisky Exchange Exclusive

55.7% ABV
$675 – $800
Website
Green Spot 1991 26 Year Old Marsala Cask TWE Exclusive Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

What the Producer Says

A very special bottling, selected by and exclusive to The Whisky Exchange: a single cask of 26-year-old Green Spot pot still whiskey, distilled at Midleton and filled into cask on 18 October 1991. It was initially matured in bourbon and sherry casks, before the spirit was reracked into a single Marsala butt for further maturation. The result brings together the fresh fruit flavours of bourbon-cask maturation with the richer dried fruit notes you get from sherry casks, and stirs them both together with fragrant Marsala and classic Irish pot-still fruit and spice.

Details from the bottle:
Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Single Cask
Matured in Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Butts and recasked to Marsala Butt

Cask Number: 50776
Date of Bonding: 10/18/1991
Matured in Warehouse: M14B Bay 20
576 Bottles

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and thick, dark fruit notes of raisins, apricots, dates, figs, clove, nutmeg, marsala wine, butterscotch, dark chocolate, caramel, toffee and a hint of anise.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, intense fruit notes, dates, black currants, figs, chocolate, marsala and sherry, graham cracker, nutmeg, bit of pepper and baking spices.
Finish:  Long and lingering with marsala notes and dried fruit.
Comments:  THE best Irish whiskey to pass these lips! In fact, one of the top 5 best whiskies I’ve tasted. To be sure, this is a pricey one. Big thanks to Richard for sharing a generous sample of his bottle (and sharing the bottle itself amongst friends). Water opens this up with even more fruit and tamps the chocolate notes a big, but it absolutely doesn’t need water in my opinion. The palate near the end leaves me thinking of S’mores. Just an amazingly intense and complex dram. If you don’t have to pay VAT, the price is £500 ($691 at current exchange, before shipping).  Now – you may ask, if I’m rating this a Must Buy, did I buy a bottle then? No, but not because it isn’t worth it. But even at $800, if you can get a group of enthusiasts together – that’s only $35 for a 30 mL pour (and I think anyone who handed over $35 for a 30 mL pour of this would think it was absolutely worth it, and might double-up – if there was any left!)

Rating: Must Buy

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