What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

I think I’d be keeping it all for meself and friendship/cairdeas be damned !

Natterjack, pleasent.

Very nice! Something like that you just need to open on a random Tuesday night or it becomes an expensive ornament that your afraid to drink.

Had this conversation with someone over the weekend who couldn't believe I finished two bottles of Thomond Gate when I could have doubled my money on them.

Finished off some bottles recently. Getting rid of odds and ends so I can open a few new bottles. I have a bottle of Redbreast 12 CS but I'll have to get a replacement for the standard version soon.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Jack Daniels at the start. It was given to me as a present but it was one of those that got better over time and I enjoyed it at the end.

Was about to send the search party out for you Bonnie! Hope the craic is good with you? Twas a good tasting if a little overlong. I've said before that the IWS tastings lack the craic of L Mulligans or the brevity and larger samples of Celtic Whiskey. Some interesting whiskey sampled with the theme being discontinued 12 year olds. Quick notes below ranked in order of preference. All 40% except Jameson travel which was 43%.

1 - 12 year old Jameson Asian Travel Retail

Wasn't expecting too much but this was surprisingly the best of the bunch. Sherry and pot still forward. Lovely nose. Rich, velvet, orchard fruits, fruit cake.

2 - Redbreast 12 year old (2000s)

Different and better than current version. Stunning nose. Oily, Dark Fruits, Chocolate, Ginger spice. A snapshot of early 21st century pot still. Current version lacking in comparison.

3 - Powers 12 year old Special Reserve

Blend of pot still and grain. Mainly pot still but the grain helps calm the pot still spice. Rich, oily, creamy honey, cinnamon and ginger. A mellow sweetness to it.

4 - Jameson 12 year old Special Reserve

High pot still to grain ratio. Opposite of regular Jameson. 3/4 pot still to 1/4 grain. White pepper, vanilla, honey, custard, raisins, figs, spice.

5 - Redbreast 12 year old (1970s)

The star of the show before the tasting started but overshadowed by its support acts. Distilled in Bow street in the 1960s. It's unmistakably whiskey but it's not the whiskey we know today. Mature wood, musty, damp oak. Waxy, burnt rubber. I tasted 1960s Bushmills before and it smelt like cats piss and that's here too.

I remember Richard Hammond got to try his dream 1980s super car on top gear. It was a Lamborghini or Testarossa. He thought he was onto a good thing but it was terrible to drive and he couldn't wait to get back to his modern comforts. The same goes for this. A pleasure to try but better in the imagination.

Jameson 12 year old used to be my favourite 😭

Just finished that tasting myself now. Bang on the money with that ordering and the tasting notes.

Jaysus, that 12 year old Jameson Asian Travel Retail is an absolute cracker. I'd almost be tempted to hunt it down at auction.

That 70s redbreast is worth the try, but I doubt I'll bother tasting it again.

Debating whether I crack open my newly acquired springbank 18 after those whiskeys.

Yeah it was a surprise alright. One bottle up for auction at the moment. Might be a few in for it after that tasting!

https://irishwhiskeyauctions.ie/views/product.php?id=65591624

Just bought a bottle of this Tesco 12 year old single malt Irish whiskey in Tesco for €35.

Cant seem to find out anything about it online. Anyone any idea where it’s from etc?

Cool thanks for that. Won’t be opening until Christmas so hoping it’s nice.

This is getting very silly indeed now. "Terroir" for rum? It's made from sugar ffs... I thought the marketing BS surrounding their whisk(e)y was as bad as it could get, but I was wrong.

Looking forward to trying this release, hopefully Santy will bring a bottle.

https://whiskeytalk2u.com/2021/10/18/introducing-jameson-black-barrel-proof/amp/?__twitter_impression=true