Barr an Uisce 1803 16 Year Old

While visiting a very nice establishment in Cuenca, a city in the Ecuadorian highlands, the manager recognized me from my social media page. He then offered me some whiskies I had not encountered before. Specifically, he presented an Irish whiskey named "Barr un Uisce." It is a single malt, 16 years old, from a limited release of 1803 bottles, number 0502. A fine spirit, bottled at 46% ABV. On the nose, it's the greenest apple imaginable, with pear notes. Extremely fruity. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be a Glenfiddich 12 Year Old. The palate echoes the green apple profile, with hints of clove, freshly cut grass, and hay. The finish offered a surprising puff of smoke, reminiscent of burnt hay and apple pie. Overall, if this were a Scotch, it would seem like the most standard whisky ever. However, as an Irish single malt, it feels exceptionally well-made and distinct from typical whiskies from that great country. I believe Ireland's spirits scene is making a comeback, and releases like this are clear evidence. My rating is a solid 84 out of 100.