Ha’Penny is a blended Irish Whiskey that is aged in sherry, bourbon, and twice charred casks. Ha’Penny is bottled at 43% ABV (86°) by the Pearse Lyons Distillery and was $25 dollars. For those who aren’t in the know, a Ha’Penny is a half penny and the modern version was last used in Ireland in 1986.
Ha’Penny Irish Whiskey
The Nose
First I cracked the bottle open, then I poured a dram into a Glencairn Whiskey Glass and swirled it gently to bring out the aromas. The nose is sweet, peppery, and ends on a bit of malt and rough edges.
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean and the front of the tongue is sweet fruit that transitions to malt on the middle of the tongue before finishing with pepper and a few jagged edges.
The Score – Ha’Penny Irish Whiskey
For $25 bucks this is a decent value, but at the end of the day I’m only able to give it a 64/100, putting it into Mixed Drinks Only territory due to its roughness and lack of overall balance. However, for $25 its worth trying, so let me know if you disagree with the score in the comments.
One of my sons (who is an adult) gave me this wonderful bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Old for fathers day. I drank half that night and saved the other half to enjoy in a more relaxed manner. This is my fourth Tullamore offering, all of which I’ve enjoyed. Plus, who is going to turn down a well aged Single Malt that has been aged in Sherry Casks, Bourbon Casks, Madeira Casks, and Port Casks?
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year
I have to say this is one of those rare whiskies where I can actually appreciate all those finishes.
As you can see, I demolished this bottle in just two sittings…
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year
The Nose
The nose on this Tullamore D.E.W 14 is a swirling complexity to delight your olfactory senses. The first thing that hit my nose was the wonderful maltiness of the Single Malt, a bit of alcohol, and then it quickly shifts as the multiple finishes vie for your attention. The time spent in the Port, Sherry and Madeira casks give the nose a wonderful fruitiness which is nicely balanced by the sharper vanilla from the bourbon casks.
I sat here with a snifter for a good ten minutes appreciating this Tullamore D.E.W 14’s nose. It is worth picking up a bottle just to sample all those well balanced finishes.
The Palate
The mouth feel is crisp and clean. The front of my tongue is hit by the malt that turns to a touch of vanilla as I start to swallow. The finish is all dry Sherry, Port, and Madeira which also gives this whiskey a nice fruity finish. It is well done, but this is the one area there might be just a bit of a clash of flavors as the different finishes vie for first place.
The Score – Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year
Overall, this is an excellent Irish Whiskey which scored an 81/100, making it Sip Worthy. Thank you Ty!!!!
Color
Deep amber and honey that captures the light perfectly.
Proof
46.0% ABV
Pros:
This was an amazing, awesome gift.
Masterfully blended finishes. This is a perfect masterclass for those who want something with a bit more complexity.
Easier to find than some other bottles at this quality and price point.
Cons:
Has some complexity that may not be for the beginner.
In my area, this is the same price as Redbreast 12, and for that money, unless I am thirsty for the complex finishes this Tullamore D.E.W 14 gives, I’d most likely end up buying the Redbreast 12.
I found this bottle of Redbreast 15 after a year of trying to find a bottle that I didn’t have to drive three hours each way to try. You better believe I grabbed it when I saw it on the shelf at a nearby store!
Redbreast 15
The Nose
The nose on this Redbreast 15 is a beautiful thing. The base is all malt and rich dark fruits that ends with a bit of nuttiness. Compared to Redbreast 12, this is stronger, richer, but very similar.
The Palate
The mouth feel of this Redbreast is slightly different than Redbreast 12. It has a dryer mouth feel, which I think is caused by the extra time spent in the barrel? Those extra years in oak gave imparted a bit more astringency that leads to a dry, slightly acidic finish. It’s not overpowering, and it is balanced by malt, vanilla, and a touch of pepper. Underneath all that is the lovely butter cookies I love so much in Redbreast 12.
The Score – Redbreast 15
Redbreast 15 is a very enjoyable dram. It may seem strange that I’m giving this a lower score than Redbreast 12, but those extra years in the barrel change some of what I love about the original. Don’t get me wrong, a 91/100 still puts this Irish Whiskey well above almost every other bottle I’ve tried, but it doesn’t unseat my all time favorite Irish Whiskey, which is of course Redbreast 12. Will that change? I don’t know, but so far nothing has come close.
Color
Deep amber and honey that captures the light perfectly.
Proof
46.0% ABV
Pros:
For the well trained Whiskey Lover this is a complex dram with a deep flavor profile.
Amazing nose.
I got to check something off on my bucket list.
Cons:
This hard to find, so if you do love it, you might not be able to find it.
At $100 bucks, the price to value drops off a bit.
John L Sullivan Irish Whiskey is a perfect dram when you are on a budget. Especially if you are looking for something to break it up a little in the Budget Whiskey category. The top three players in this segment are:
The marketing team went all out for John L Sullivan, making this boxer inspired bottle “The Sporting Man’s Whiskey”. Now let’s see how it holds up.
Sporting Man’s Whiskey
The Nose
As usual, I poured a dram into a Glencairn Glass and gently swirled it. The nose on John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey hints at malt but its subtle and is mixed with a bit of ethanol. That alcohol can make it a bit harder to appreciate the things we all love about Irish Whiskey.
The Palate
The first sip has a few rough edges, but it also has a nice muted malt on the mid tongue that turns to Granny Smith apples and vanilla oak that slides into its finish.
The Score – John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey
There are rough edges, and the nose and flavors are relatively basic. On the other hand this is a dirt cheap bottle and it sips easy. That is giving this points on the value side, offsetting some of the rough edges, which is why John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey earned a 72/100 and I will grab another bottle next time I see it. It’s not going in my Whiskey Safe, but for those times when I’m watching a bad movie and eating pizza, this is a great Budget Whiskey.
Color
Light straw with a hint of gold.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Dirt cheap.
Sips easy.
Great value for the dollar.
Cons:
There are a few rough edges, but at this price what do you expect?
I’ve had this bottle of The Dubliner 10 Year in the back corner of my Whiskey Shelf for a few months but it finally cycled to the top of the list, and I am very happy it did.
The Dubliner is a Single Malt, traditional copper pot still Irish Whiskey that is aged in Bourbon Casks for 10 Years. I am super excited to try this Single Malt after thoroughly enjoying its blended brother The Dubliner.
The Dubliner 10 Year
The Nose
The nose on this 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey is a treat. It is full of malt, vanilla, and honey that has notes of fruit and spice all around its edges. It is lovely, complex, and swirling.
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean and crisp. This is a very Sip Worthy, smooth whiskey. When I reviewed The Dubliner blended version I was impressed. That version scored an 80/100 at a very affordable price point of around $30 bucks.. The Dubliner 10 Year takes the goodness from the blended version and adds several layers of lovely complexity. The front of the tongue sings with honey and malt that rapidly turns to woody vanilla on the mid tongue that just as quickly turns to dark fruits and dry oak that comes from all those years in the Bourbon Casks.
The Score – The Dubliner Irish Whiskey
The Dubliner Single Malt earned every point of its 89/100 points.
Color
Light and rich amber.
Proof
42.0% ABV
Pros:
Lovely, swirling, complex nose.
Deep, clean, rich flavors that highlight the time spend in those Bourbon Casks.
Cons:
I haven’t seen another bottle in my local stores, and now I have to add it to my “must buy” if I see it list.
New Irish Whiskey drinkers will really enjoy this, but maybe start them on the blended The Dubliner version and build up to this more matured version.
I know prices vary widely from state to state, and even from store to store, but if this comes close to a bottle of Redbreast 12, well, I have to go with the Redbreast 12.
Tullamore Dew is always a safe bet. If I’m not sure what I want, Tullamore Dew is always a good choice. It is a solid dram which is affordable, and good straight up or over the rocks. Because I’m on a journey to try every whiskey that Tullamore offers, I picked up this Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish when I saw it.
My Tullamore Collection to date:
Tullamore Collection
The color of this Tullamore Dew Rum Cask Finish is a deep straw color.
The Nose
Per my usual, I poured a dram into a Glencairn Whiskey Glass and swirled it gently to bring the nose up. It is sweet with a bit of ethanol. It is nice, but not overly complex. I searched for something on the nose that called out the time spent in the rum casks
The Palate
The mouth feel is fresh and clean and the flavor really changes as it moves over the tongue. The front of the tongue is all sweet vanilla that transitions into very soft butter cookies on the mid tongue and then fishes with oak and rum. The finish is really where the time in the rum casks really shines.
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
The Score – Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
This Tullamore Dew Rum Cask Finish really shines as a smooth, affordable sipper. This is a very Sip Worthy offering and scored a 72/100. It is not overly complex, but it is very tasty, and worth the $30 to $35 that I’ve found it at.
Color
Deep straw.
Proof
43.0% ABV
Pros:
Affordable when found near the $33 mark.
Lovely sweet vanilla on the opening and finishes with oaky rum.
You can’t go wrong with Tullamore.
Cons:
The first sip has a little roughness that rapidly goes away.
If you are a purest and don’t like ice or a touch of water you won’t be able to appreciate this whiskey as much.
Have you ever heard of Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey before? It was a new one on me, and whenever I see a new Irish offering I have to get it, even if the price is $65 for an unknown offering. In Irish, Drumshambo is “Droim Seanbhó”, which translates to “ridge of the old huts”.
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
The first thing I noticed was how light this whiskey is. It is a very soft yellow.
The Nose
The nose is equally soft. I would describe it as a single note of honey and hay with just a touch of vanilla that ends with just a hint of butter cookies. It is nice, but muted.
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean with just a touch of oil. The front of my tongue is all sweet honey and vanilla but it quickly turns to more acid an oak on the mid tongue and finish. That finish is what really cost this whiskey points for me. There is just a lot of acid that isn’t balanced out by anything else.
The Score – Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
At the end of the day, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey scored a 62/100, way under performing its price point.
Let me know if you agree in the comments.
Color
A very soft yellow.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Who doesn’t love to try new Irish Whiskey?
If you like strong cereal notes mixed with honey and vanilla you will like these flavor profiles.
Cons:
Way overpriced at $65 bucks.
Too many sharp edges on the finish. Some of them are funky, and not in a good way.
For this price I expect more butter cookies in the flavor profile. Isn’t that why I drink Irish Whiskey?
I was super excited to find a bottle of Jameson Orange. It just came out and I live in the boonies, so I had to drive across the river and hit the “big city” to find it.
I was even more excited when the cashier told me its really good. He described it as not too sweet, and subtle – which sounded awesome because I’m a Whiskey Snob and I like whiskey that tastes like whiskey.
Jameson Orange
The Nose
The nose on this Jameson Orange is just amazing. All orange and cream and just so very aromatic. It is a very pleasant nose.
The Palate
The initial sip is smooth, and is reminiscent of Jameson with hints of orange. The mid tongue is zest, and the finish is all orange, zest, and just a hint of Jameson butter cookies.
That first sip is tasty, but the more you drink, the more the aftertaste turns to cold medicine. It is a slow gradual degradation of flavors that ends up being a final sip of cold medicine.
The Score – Jameson Orange
Still, I drank the bottle, but if I buy another I’ll be saving it for Mixed Drinks Only. I’m giving this Jameson Orange a 55/100.
Color
Light golden brown.
Proof
30.0% ABV
Pros:
Great starter whiskey for someone who doesn’t really appreciate whiskey yet.
The nose is all orange creamcycle.
It’s only 30% ABV, so it really doesn’t have any alcohol edge.
Cons:
I don’t like flavored whiskey, and this is like a candy whiskey to me.
After a few sips the orange aftertaste starts to finish like cold medicine.
It’s only 30% ABV, so it goes down easy, but also leads to a hangover. What is strange is that I don’t usually get hangovers from higher proofs so I tend to blame the flavoring for some reason. I have no idea what the real cause is.
We were driving by a CostCo and decided to hit their liquor store. Which you don’t need a membership to shop at! It is apparently illegal to have private alcohol stores? We don’t have a CostCo nearby so I had to grab this huge bottle of Kirkland Irish Whiskey to try out.
Kirkland Irish Whiskey
The Nose
The nose on this Kirkland offering is subtle. It hints at butter cookies but it is really hard to appreciate through the alcohol. Not super impressive so far.
The Palate
The mouth feel is clean, but has lots of sharp edges. Those sharp edges continue all the way to the finish with a stab of alcohol.
Of course I couldn’t try this without comparing it to Jameson right?
Kirkland Irish Whiskey Vs Jameson
It is really hard to see in the pictures, but the Kirkland offering is just a tiny bit darker than the Jameson. Picking the Jameson by nose was very easy, it all comes down to the alcohol burn. Neither has a strong nose, but the Kirkland Irish Whisky really hits in with the alcohol in comparison. Even my wife, who does not like whiskey, could pick out the Kirkland Irish Whiskey. It is the one that smelled “stronger” of alcohol.
The mouth feels are very similar. The very first note on the tip of my tongue makes me wonder if the Kirkland Irish Whiskey might be sourced from Irish Distillers Ltd. Yes, the same company that owns Jameson. From what I can find on the public forums, it does appear these two are coming from the same source. For obvious reasons, CostCo wants to keep this a mystery.
A lot of other reviews comment on the sweet creaminess of the the Kirkland Branded Whiskey. I was really looking forward to enjoying that! Sadly, the only thing I could really appreciate was a bit of sweetness mixed in with those sharp edges.
For me, the flavor comparison is close. Kirkland Irish Whiskey has an age statement and is an excellent budget offering. I just think the Jameson is smoother and easier to sip. If you are going for volume per dollar though, the Kirkland option is the clear winner.
The Score – Kirkland Irish Whiskey
Jameson scored an 75/100, and while this Kirkland Irish Whiskey is a huge value, it is not as good. I’m scoring it a 65/100 putting it at the uppermost range of Mixed Drinks Only.
Color
Golden brown.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Holy carp, this was only $18 bucks.
Very economical if you are making mixed drinks.
Aged 4 years.
Cons:
Very faint nose that is hard to get to because of how alcohol forward this whiskey is.
Rough edges on the finish.
Even though its twice as much volume for a few dollars less, I would still go with a bottle of regular old Jameson.
I actually picked up this bottle of Jameson IPA Edition the first time I went to find Jameson Orange. The Jameson Orange was already gone, so I picked up this IPA Edition as a consolation prize.
The IPA Edition is finished in IPA beer barrels for a crisp, hoppy finish that puts a nice citrus twist on the classic Jameson offering.
IPA Edition
The Nose
I poured a nice dram into a Glencairn Glass and let the aroma fill the bowl. The nose has a very distinct citrus and hoppy scent that fades into classic Jameson at the end.
The Palate
Those hoppy, citrus notes continue right on into the tasting. The front of my tongue gets all classic Jameson, but as soon as the sip reaches mid tongue I pick up citrus that turns to a very pronounced hops on the finish.
The Score – Jameson IPA Edition
For me it is a nice change up over classic Jameson, which is my go to Irish Whiskey for budget sipping, but I’d say its not better or worse. It is just as good, just different, which means this IPA Edition is scoring an 80/100.
If you like IPAs, you will love this rendition of Jameson.
Color
Golden brown.
Proof
40.0% ABV
Pros:
Nice twist on classic Jameson.
Great training for new drinkers as the nose isn’t too subtle. If you compare this to standard Jameson it is easy to pick out the differences, even for new drinkers.
Cons:
If you are not a fan of IPAs, you might not like the citrus, hoppy finish on this sipper.
