Tag: Single Malt

Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year

TJ Provost Leave a comment

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
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
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.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

See all Whiskeys and how they rank!

The Dubliner 10 Year

TJ Provost Leave a comment

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 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.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey is a 50/50 blend of malt and grain whiskies. The mix contain a majority of 4 year old grain whiskey blended with 7 year old malt whiskey. After aging in bourbon barrels two whiskies are blended and finally finished for 6 months in ex-Flor de Caña rum casks.

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

The Nose

The nose of Teeling Small Batch hints at deeper levels, but doesn’t quite get all the way there. There are ripe fruits that ebbs and flows with each sniff. It would have been more enchanting but the grain whiskey washes out a lot of the notes of the malt whiskey. A buddy gifted me these Irish Tuath Glasses and I have to say they are perfect to sip a bit of Irish Whiskey from.

The Palate

The palate is clean with no oils. The front of my tongue appreciates some sweetness and malt that turns to a hint of leather on the mid tongue. The funk left on my tongue cost this whiskey some points.

The Score

The blend of grain to malt whiskey might just be too heavily weighted to the grain whiskey for me to enjoy this. I feel that the grain whiskey washes out a lot of what I like in Irish Whiskey. There is just a bit of funk hiding in this whiskey where those two blends just don’t quite go together 100%.

I still enjoyed sipping it, but I kept thinking about the $40 price tag. Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey scored a 70/100, making it just barely Sip Worthy. The real issue with the price is that I scored Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey the same 70/100, and I can get it for $20 a bottle.

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey

Color

Light honey brown amber.

Proof

46.0% ABV

Pros

  • There are some nice sweet and malt flavors hiding in there.

Cons

  • At $40 a bottle I can get more value by buying Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey.
  • There is just a little roughness in the middle of the sip that I couldn’t stop appreciating.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

See all Whiskeys!

Whiskey Dreams – The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

I will always grab a bottle of Irish Whiskey I’ve never had before. Unlike bourbons, which have dozens of new bottles to taste every month, a new Irish Whiskey is much less common. Sadly, the bottles I haven’t tried also tend to get more expensive.

Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

So when I saw this bottle of The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey on the shelf I immediately picked it up.

The Nose

The nose on The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey is quite enjoyable. There is a nice mixture of sweetness and cinnamon that blends with the malt and spice. It all comes together in a lovely nose that has a lot of subtle notes in it.

The Palate

After the nose, I was really looking forward to the first sip of The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey. The big question on my mind was, did I find a competitor to Red Breast 12?

The first sip of The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey was a little bit of a letdown after how much I enjoyed the nose. There are hints of leather and malt on that first touch of the tongue, which quickly turns to wood notes on the mid tongue before becoming a bit astringent on the finish. That finish is what really hurt The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey for me. The finish is really sharp and not as balanced as I’d like.

The Score

I’m giving The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey a 40/100. The nose was wonderful but the sip was a bit of a let down.

The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey

Color

Light amber.

Proof

40.0% ABV

Pros

  • Who doesn’t want to try every Irish Single Malt on the planet?

Cons

  • At $60 a bottle there are much better options.
  • Not as smooth as I’d like.
  • The finish is sharp and not overly enjoyable neat.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey is a product of the Royal Oak Distillery in a joint venture with New Riff Distilling. If you are familiar with the Busker brand of Irish Whisky you’ve already drank a few drams that the Royal Oak Distillery created.

High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Unlike American Bourbon, new Irish Whiskey offerings don’t come out every day, so when I saw this bottle of High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover I jumped on it, super excited to open the bottle and try it.

Now that the bottle is open, let’s dig into how it stands up to its peers.

High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey

The Nose

The nose on this High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey is delicate but deep. There are those lovely butter cookie notes I love in Irish Whisky in general mixed with vanilla and molasses. The sweetness here is rich but some ends with a dry not that really accents the time spent in the Sherry Casks. For a Whiskey bottled at cask strength there is zero booziness.

The Palate

This whiskey is just so damn smooth. There is absolutely no hint that this was bottled at cask strength. The front of my tongue is awash in desert flavors. Sweetness and butter cookies. The mid tongue blends that sweetness and creamy maltiness with the dryness of the time spent in the sherry casks. The finish is a blend of those sweet flavors and the dryness of the sherry. It really is a masterful blend.

These are very rich flavors. Have you ever had a really fatty, creamy meal that was amazing, but also made you think you just couldn’t eat another bite? It is so so rich you can’t take it? That is exactly how this High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover made me feel.

The Score

High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey scored a 97/100 making it Sip Worthy. This is an expensive whiskey, but if you have the dollars, it is well worth a try.

Color

Amber and dark honey.

Proof

58.7% ABV

Pros

  • This is a dangerous bottle. It is so smooth you don’t feel the Cask Strength bottling until your head is swimming a bit.
  • Sometimes I crave that dry sherry finish on my Irish Whiskey and this knocked it out of the park.

Cons

  • At $160 bucks this is a steep price for the bottle.
  • This is a limited release. if you love it you may not be able to find it again.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Whiskey Dreams – Stranahan’s

TJ Provost

I’ve read several rave reviews of Stranahan’s Single Malt, and was looking forward to a wonderful experience drinking this American Bourbon.

Stranahan’s

This is different, it is essentially an American single malt scotch made in Colorado. The nose on this whiskey is sweet vanilla that floats on a layer of marshmallow. With its clean sweet nose this Whiskey begs to be sipped.

This is where things fell apart a little for me.

I’m not huge fan of Scotch. I don’t enjoy smoky, oily alcohol. I love bourbon and Irish Whiskey as long as they aren’t peated. I had to look up Stranahan’s Single Malt to make sure it wasn’t peated. It wasn’t. So I was surprised at how strong the burnt sugar and char notes are. Stranahan’s Single Malt has a blackened, burnt marshmallow flavor that is just a little oily, and which coats your palate. If you like Scotch, you might find this whiskey to be quite enjoyable. For me, the burnt flavor killed the experience.

Stranahan’s Single Malt is scoring a 27/100. I will finish the bottle in mixers, but I wouldn’t buy something this expensive to make Manhattan’s with.

Color

Rusty water with a touch of honey.

Proof

47.0% ABV

Pros

  • Who doesn’t want to try an American Single Malt?
  • If you like burnt marshmallow, you will love this whiskey.

Cons

  • The char on this whiskey is super strong. It brings up blacked, burnt marshmallows and the flavor is super clingy.
  • The char is hard to escape, it is really overpowering the sweet vanilla.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Whiskey Dreams – Egans Fortitude Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey is aged exclusively in Pedro Ximénez casks. Pedro Ximénez sherry is well known for being a syrupy sweet, yet dry, and those flavor profiles are really prevalent in this whiskey. Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey carries no age statement, so it is likely bottled at the bare minimum of 3 years which is required to be called Irish Whiskey.

Egans Irish Whiskey

The nose on this Irish Whiskey is a gem. I could sniff this for desert, that’s how sweet and fruity it is.

Sadly, that sweet, fruity nose is overpowered by the dry sherry notes from the Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. I like the dryness the sherry adds on the front of my tongue, but the finish is almost sour for me.

My son saw me take the first sip of this and said my face scrunched up. I may have said it finishes like “cat pee”.

He asked me how I knew what cat pee tasted like. I changed the subject.

Something about Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey just doesn’t agree with me. I tried it over some ice to see if that would help but it just made it cold and distasteful for me.

Overall I’m more likely to pour a dram of this and just enjoy the nose. The flavors from the sherry really wash away what I enjoy in a single malt, so needless to say, Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey isn’t making it into my Whiskey Safe, and is scoring a Just Bad 26/100. Yes, it is at the higher end of Just Bad, but that is because the nose is just so nice.

Color

Light Amber

Proof

40.0% ABV

Pros

  • Amazing nose.
  • If you like sherry and Irish Whiskey you will love Egan’s Fortitude.

Cons

  • The raisins, figs and dates from the sherry casks overpowers the flavors of the Single Malt.
  • The dryness of the sherry does something funky on my tongue. It almost turns the finish of this whiskey sour for me.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Whiskey Dreams – The Busker Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

The Busker Single malt says it is a modern Irish whiskey that is smooth enough to drink straight, or perfect for a mixer, or in their own words:

The Busker Single Malt Irish Whiskey is born out of a modern Ireland, where the contemporary and bold meet at the crossroads of tradition. Smooth enough to be had alone or added as a delicious kick to your favorite mixed drink.
                      - Disaronno International
The Busker Irish Whiskey

Now lets see how these claims hold up.

The nose is full of alcohol burn. There is maltiness hidden in there, but the nose really hits you with ethanol.

The first impression is alcohol, just like the nose, that turns to malt and transitions to a bit of butter cookie before finishing very rough. I was really not impressed with the overall mouth feel, the opening, or the very rough finish.

I was really surprised by this as I’d read a ton of positive feedback on “The Busker” brand Irish Whiskeys.

At the end of the day all I can guess is that The Busker marketing team is really good, and really aggressive. For me, The Busker Single Malt scores a paltry 4/100. Yes I drank it, but I didn’t enjoy it, and while it did get me tipsy pretty fast, it also gave me a headache. For me, a headache usually means the quality of the bottle was slow.

At the $35 price point there are better options out there. I’d pass on The Busker Irish Whiskey if I were you. For $10 bucks cheaper you can pick up a bottle of Jameson, and for me, that is a much better buy.

Color

Medium toffee mixed with amber.

Proof

44.3% ABV

Pros

  • It tastes like it might power my lawn mower. Is that a positive? I couldn’t think of anything to be honest.

Cons

  • Too expensive at $35.
  • The alcohol hits you on the nose and continues to hit you on the palate.
  • How can something give you a hangover while you’re drinking it? This gave me a headache as I was drinking it.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Whiskey Dreams – Kavanagh Irish Whiskey

TJ Provost

I have to be honest that I opened a bottle of Kavanagh when I had a guest over and totally forgot about reviewing it until I want to reference it against Kavanagh 16 Year Single Malt.

Why did the slip up happen. Well, it’s not good news.

A buddy was over and I figured we’d try this Kavanagh together. I poured us each a dram, but I was the first to actually sip from it. It was so bad I had to take the glass away from my friend and pour him a glass of Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt instead.

Kavanagh is distilled by Kilbeggan Distilling, and I’ve read several reviews saying I should try the Kavanagh offerings. Which is one of the reasons I was surprised at how bad this Kavanagh Irish Whiskey tasted. If I’m brave enough I’ll buy another bottle someday to see if I got a spoiled batch. Or maybe I’ll wait until a buddy has a bottle and I’ll just try a dram of his.

Why am I hesitating to buy another bottle of Kavanagh Single Malt Irish Whiskey? Well, it tasted something like Irish Whiskey mixed with turpentine.

It was sharp, chemically, and unpleasant. I’m giving Kavanagh Irish Whiskey a 3/100 as I took three small sips before I decided to pour it out. I will usually keep a bottle I don’t like and see if any of my buddies want it. In this case I felt like that might cost me a friend so I just poured it out.

I’m hoping the Kavanagh 16 Year is significantly better.

Kavanagh Irish Whiskey

Color

Light amber & toffee.

Proof

40.0% ABV

Pros

  • It’s relatively cheap at $25 as long as your not planning on drinking it.

Cons

  • Tastes like someone left chemical cleaning agents in the still to me.
  • Will likely result in you pouring the bottle out if your tastes are like mine.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

Whiskey Dreams – The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask

TJ Provost

My whiskey journey started late in life. It started with Jack and then took off when I discovered Bourbon. From there I discovered a love for Irish Whiskey. One of my friends loves Scotch, and keeps telling me I’m missing out. I try to explain I don’t like liquid smoke, but it doesn’t seem to sink in.

To try and convince me, he sent me this bottle of The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask, saying the rum casks impart a sweetness that he thinks I would like.

To my friend, thank you for the Scotch. It was a good experience, but it reminded me that I don’t like smoke. To his credit, there was a split second where I thought I’d found a Scotch I liked. The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask starts with a complex mix of sweet spices, but as soon as this dark copper liquid hit my mid tongue it turned to a strong, overpowering smoke. By the swallow I was grimacing, not sure if I was licking a camp fire.

Please don’t send me hate mail. I don’t like Scotch!!!! I’m sure if you like Scotch this is a fine offering, but for me this is a 2/100, and the 2 points are because it was a gift and I felt like it was mean to give it a 0. To my buddy, thank you for trying to expand my palate. At least when he comes over he now has a bottle of Scotch to drink.

The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask

Color

Dark copper.

Proof

43.0% ABV

Pros

  • I have Scotch in my liquor cabinet for my friends now.
  • I was brave enough to try it.

Cons

  • Made me feel like I was licking a campfire or ashtray. I just don’t enjoy smoke in my whiskey.
  • At $100 bucks a bottle, this is an expensive sipper even if you love Scotch.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml