Bushmills
Nose: Young. That grassy edge once again this time reminiscent of wet raffia. A nutty, floury note. Firm with a very slight metallic edge.
Palate:
Light and sweet but a youthful cereal, slightly hard core before a tantalising burst of peachy fruit at the back of the palate.
Finish:
Becomes dry. Quite short.
Comment:
Its youth just gives it a hard quality.
Black Bush
Nose: Rich and ripe, with some dark (cooked) black fruit. Raisin, cocoa, praline, coconut. Substantial smooth succulence.
Palate:
Sweet start then it firms up in the centre where the nuts return melting into the chocolate and raisin. Chewy and tongue coating. Showing some complexity.
Finish:
Long, sweet.
Comment: Beautifully balanced
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Bushmills 10 Year
Nose: Intense malt with a unmistakable sherry richness. Quite firm, fruity and clean.
Palate:
Sweet, quite lush start: malt, sherry and soft spice.
Finish:
Lashings of toffee with bigger sherry than of old. Dark fudge sweetness gives way to much drier cocoa notes.
Comment:
Quite fruity and full where once it was slightly powdery and over-dependent on the malt character alone.
Bushmill 16 Year
Nose:
Big, fat and sweet. Butter and raisins. Forms slowly with pineapple, stewed fruits, malted milk, coconut, cereal, cocoa, orange. Big (but balanced) oak.
Palate:
Round and rich. Sweet dried fruits, brazil nut, coffee, soft malt, popcorn. Good grip. Oak in balance.
Finish:
Long. Hazelnut.
Comment: Plenty of oak but the spirit holds its own. An extra dimension to the 10.
Bushmills
21 Year
Nose: A lifted, perfumed fruit-filled nose, soft and pulpy, apricot yoghurt and crannachan (raspberry oats sugar and cream).
Palate:
Starts sweet, soft and juicy starting with apricot ending
up with redcurrant and cherry.
Finish: A very light smokiness.
Comment:
Lovely balance. A whisky for those who like things on the fruity side.
Middleton 30 Year
Nose: Subtle and complex. Very spicy with sandalwood, discreet oakiness, cereal and peach. In time even more spice and a lovely juiciness.
Palate:
Long and very perfumed with layers of flavour: lilac, oak, toffee. Finer than the others.
Finish:
An unusual vigorous climax to a stunning offering. Long, spices, oak.
Comment: Don't know how Barry Crockett keeps this standard up year on year, the most robust MVR in ages. Bravo!
Jameson Original
Nose: Soft and creamy (coconut), acetone, then a hard metallic note reminiscent of aluminium cigar tubes. Peanut brittle. Has some sweetness with water, but there's some young stuff in there.
Palate:
Light, soft, grassy. Vanilla, cane juice, apricot jam. With
water a nagging harshness.
Finish: Dry raffia, wet reeds.
Jameson 12 Year
Nose: Leather handbags, new car smell. Seville oranges and dusk in Valencia.
Palate:
I have died and gone to heaven. Warm oily spice, cardamom, cinnamon
and some damn fine sherry notes.
Finish: Rumbles on for ages. Tickling pepper and milk chocolate.
Comment:
For the money, this is the best damn blend you will ever, ever taste.
Red Breast 12 Year
Nose: There's a fruity, almost rye-like quality, and deft, honeyed sweetness, a touch of sherry, cream soda vanilla and some peppery notes. Breathtaking
Palate:
The flavours take off in all directions. Spiciness and a pot still backbone softened by sherry. Very firm with some toffee
Finish: Oily, some liquorice and enormous sweet-sour complexity. Spicy and long
Comment:
Delicious, soothing, contemplative. A great whiskey. Makes me want to get on a plane to Dublin immediately
Tullamore Dew
Nose: A most unusual, high, furniture polish and spirity nose. Acetone and meths, yet not unattractive.
Palate:
Oily, with dark berries and malt.
Finish:
Quite short and nutty. Lingering vanilla behind oak.
Comment:
A curious beast, indeed.
