Part one of Irish vs Scottish whiskey brands by Hotaling. And a random American bourbon which I cannot fit with anything.
The Irishman 12, 43%
Aged 12 years in ex-bourbon casks at least it’s a single malt. Nose is quite malty and mineral-rich. Palate has sweet vanilla, toasted grains, some peppers and ginger spice with a bit of milk chocolate to it. Warming; medium length aftertaste with some malty with a little bit chocolate in the very end. Overall: This starts out delicious but is underproofed; this really should be at least 46%, the mid-palate just falls straight into the aftertaste with zero secondary flavors, or could have used few more years in the cask. Try it at a bar for a checkbox. It’s probably best paired with a meal or a conversation. Value: At $75 in Total Wine… I’m not sure it’s really worth it for a 12 year old Irish whiskey… though then again… the prices for brown gold has been climbing.
Score: B-
Writer’s Tears; Marsala Cask finish, 45%
A 45% abv writer’s tears, vs regular 40%… Finished in sweet marsala Sicily wine cask… Which is basically a Sicilian variant of sherry. This is a good start on paper. This is single pot still, which means a blend of malt and grain whiskeys. The nose is quite sweet and little bit dessert-forward with vanilla notes sharing domination with wine. The palate is… Woody primarily; with sweet vanilla, surprisingly soft and gentle with very little spice. Aftertaste is basically missing… Overall: Sweet and inoffensive this is best described as ’smooth’ which means it’s actually boring. Do not bother; unless for novelty or a FOMO checkbox. Value: for $80 fairly low value; it’s a cool gimmick but it’s still an Irish whiskey with sherry cask finish.
Score: C
Writer’s Tears; Cask Strength, 54.2%
I’m assuming this 2021 vintage release. https://www.walshwhi … tears-cask-strength/ … The nose is intense and delicious. Berries primarily with some malt and vanilla, peaches and flowers rise to rule over time. Intensely woody almost to the point of bitterness at first, this slides into leche fruits and peaches after few seconds. The aftertaste is long and rolling with waves of vanilla, ginger, and slightly bitter wood notes leaving my mouth salivating for more or ready for the next course. Overall: Certainly not what i was expecting in here from Writer’s Tears as their other bottlings are somewhat middling. There are other of Cask Strength Irish whiskeys and them claiming “our vatting combining both Pot Still and Single Malt is truly unique” is silly; as Blue Spot AND Redbreast been doing it also. Really delicious though though the wood notes act more of an aperitif forcing me to get through the initial hit and it’s really the only letdown here as the rest is quite a solid package. A very good bottling from the brand; highly unexpected and I’m very pleasantly surprised. Value: At ~$150. This is expensive for a NAS Irish. See my Blue Spot blurb for an interesting comparison: https://www.aerin.or … y:entry210712-201944
Score: B+
Prideful Goat; Batch 1; 15 year Heaven Hill’s 78.5% / 13% / 8.5% mash. 57.5%
A single cask bottling by Kristopher Hart of Houston Whiskey group (and many others). Woody vanilla on the nose, some much vanilla and burnt sugar here. Palate is somewhat reminiscent of roasted corn notes that come from Heaven Hill, though reasonably balanced by the wood and the age. Aftertaste is medium or so, starts with sweet toasted wood, then goes into mediterranean dill dip then finishes with vanilla and a little bit of spice.Overall this is quite drinkable though not what most folks would expect from similarly age-stated bourbons, perhaps best to describe it as a mix of ECBP and a Booker’s; or perhaps if Fighting Cock (Also heaven hill) were to release their over-aged 15 year old edition somehow I can see these being similar. Coming off from tasting single malts… this is a little toasted wood-forward as is the case with most older bourbons. Value: This was $99 and is reasonably worth the price comparing to other 15 year old Kentucky bourbons that share the mash bill.
Score: B
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown