Review

Bushmills Irish Whiskey 1608 Anniversary Edition

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

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

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Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

57.7% ABV
$65
Website
Redbreast 12yr Cask Strength
We would like to thank Marina Maher Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Redbreast 12 Cask Strength is a pure representation of Redbreast 12 Year Old before water is added and the whiskey is non-chill filtered. Its aroma is an explosion of fruit – figs, dates, ripe bananas, sultana, red apple and lime – combined with sweet vanilla and pine from the casks. In the mouth, Redbreast 12 Cask Strength offers the flavor of dried fruit along with a touch of citrus, aromatic oils and spices. The finish is exceedingly long and richly complex with fruit and spice slowly fading through sweet butterscotch to barley.

What Richard Says

Nose: Fig newtons, bananas foster, and candied caramel apples right out of the bottle. In the glass vanilla and fresh cut wood come out but the alcohol is a little overpowering.
Palate: Oily and spicy in the mouth with a little lime zest. With water is gets a little sweeter, even more so than the regular Redbreast 12 Year Old.
Finish: Spicy and grainy initially. As you would expect from cask strength whiskey it’s pretty hot on the finish. With water the finish is a lovely interplay of peppery spice, buttery sweetness, and a touch of wood.
Comments: I was skeptical. I admit it. I’m not one of those guys riding the cask strength wave in all things whiskey. I enjoy a lot of bourbons at higher proofs but when it comes to scotch and especially Irish whiskey I tend find it too delicate to get much from the higher proof beyond more alcohol for your coin. If it’s possible this dram has changed my religion. This is a richer, fuller, more fragrant and tasty representation of Redbreast. When I tried the 15 Year Old I mistook some of my displeasure for the additional proof rather than it just not being as good as the 12 Year Old. This is an amazing Irish whiskey that everyone should experience.

Rating: Must Buy

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Macallan 18 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 18 Year Old
43% ABV/86 Proof
$150
Website

What the Distillery Say:
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 18 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

Colour: Light Mahogany
Nose: Dried fruits and ginger, with a hint of citrus, vanilla and cinnamon
Palate: Rich dried fruits, with spice, clove, orange and wood smoke
Finish: Full and lingering, with dried fruits and sweet toffee, ginger and a hint of wood smoke

What Richard Says:
Nose: A big whopping sherry smack in the face. Very rich. Gingersnap cookies, vanilla, and orange zest.
Palate: Raisins, sherry, Fig Newtons, and little bits of wood and smoke play behind the scenes.
Finish: Meaty and chewy with sweet woody notes.
Comments: Is there a more universally praised dram of scotch? Macallan 18 is no secret. Ask anyone with even a passing interest in scotch to name a “great” scotch and more often than not this will come up. Despite how pissed I continually am as the price of this keeps going up I always have a bottle at home. I remember less than 10 years ago you could buy a bottle for almost half of what it costs now. I don’t think it’s any solace but I will say that I don’t believe you get much incremental return for moving up the range of Macallan beyond this dram. The 25 and 30 year olds are nice but to me this is the quintessential Macallan. What else can I say about Macallan 18 that hasn’t been said by everyone and there brother? Not much. It’s a great dram and a benchmark of sherry oak single malt scotch.
Rating: Must Buy

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Macallan 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Year Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 (this bottling is not available in the U.S.)
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 10 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice, and chocolate orange

Nose: A hint of sweet toffee balanced with dried fruits and sherry
Palate: Smooth, with dried fruits, sherry sweetness, and wood smoke
Finish: Dried fruits, with sweet toffee and a hint of wood spice

What Richard Says:
Nose: A bit of sherry but more subdued (as expected) compared to it’s stablemates. Also, there is a lot of black tea and heavy cream.
Palate: Just as cream as the Fine Oak but not as sweet. There is a lot of sherry and some butter cookies too.
Finish: Very long. Compared to the Fine Oak this finish goes on forever. It’s very malty and bread like with a good bit of oak and spice.
Comments: This entry level Macallan expression isn’t available in the United States. Our ranges starts with the 12 year old. Why? I don’t know. It’s pleasant enough but at pricing similar to the 12 Year Old I’d suggest picking that one up instead.
Rating: Average

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Macallan 10 Year Fine Oak

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Fine Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Years Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
This legendary Single Malt is Triple Cask Matured for a minimum of 10 years in a unique, complex combination of Exceptional Oak Cask; Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry, American oak casks seasoned with sherry, and American oak casks seasoned with bourbon. This Triple Cask Matured combination delivers and extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex Single Malt.

Nose: Complex, with a hint of fruit and heather honey
Palate: Soft and malty, balanced with oak and fruit
Finish: Lingering with hints of oak and fruit

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grassy, yeasty, and lightly sweet like fresh baked yeast rolls. There is also a treacle-like sweet/savory play going on.
Palate: Fruity sweet with a delicate creaminess.
Finish: The finish on this dram feels very disconnected from the nose and palate. It’s very dry with a good bit of woody spice.
Comments: There was a lot of flack given to Macallan when they released their Fine Oak range several years ago but I find it equally enjoyable. I personally prefer the classic sherry Macallan but I enjoy these drams too. This entry level offering is a nice aperitif whisky to have before dinner. I wish the finish was a little more cohesive but it’s a fine dram in it’s own right.
Rating: Average

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