Bua 7 Year Irish Single Malt - White Moscatel Finish

Found at OHLQ. Origin unclear; bottled by Bua Brands Limited. Aged 7 years, with 3 in used bourbon barrels and 4 years in former white Moscatel casks. It's 58% abv, 116 proof. Originally $79.99, on sale for $47.99. Opened 1 week. Smells of: White grape, pear, apricot, butterscotch, honeysuckle, powdered sugar, mild sweet malt, very faint oak, and moderate ethanol. Taste: Golden raisin syrup, cooked pears, peach cobbler, floral honey, white sugar, and grain. The finish is medium-long, surprisingly dry and grainy malt, green white grape, white pepper, flower petals, and medium ethanol. OHLQ is happy to facilitate my recent dive into independent Scotch and Irish bottlers. In early 2024, OHLQ heavily promoted Irish whiskey, offering many obscure distilleries and single cask selections. As it turns out, most people in Ohio prefer bourbon, and many of those selections remain available. Over 100 Irish whiskeys are discounted by 40%, so I've been acquiring a few. This Bua brand appears to be a partnership between a Columbus pub and an Irish company. I couldn't identify the distillery, but there aren't many distilleries in Ireland anyway. If you weren't aware, it's obvious that white Moscatel is a dessert wine. The aroma and taste are incredibly sweet. It nearly completely masks the alcohol content and the Irish whiskey origin on the initial taste. It's enjoyable for a single serving, but a bit too sweet for repeated enjoyment. I believe this type of finish is suitable for those new to high-proof Irish whiskey. I'm evaluating this based on its original price, not the discounted price. I don't think it warrants $80, but I'm content with what I paid for $48.