Bushmills The Rare Casks 29 Year Pedro Ximenez Cask Single Malt

Abundant PX sweetness complements the typical tropical fruit essence found in vintage Irish whiskies. Nose: Dried fruits, root beer, dark chocolate, cherry cola, toffee, passion fruit, dates, figs, pineapples, mangoes, mocha, grapefruit, apricots, makuna honey, peaches Palate: Dates, prunes, toffee, apricots, dried fruits, dark chocolate, molasses, toasted oak, leather, morello cherries, raspberries, watermelons, treacle, cola, blackberries, cloves Finish: Mangoes, raspberries, Luxardo cherries, figs, dates, vanilla, honey, toffee, milk chocolate, white chocolate, sweet plantains, prunes, violets, lavender, cinnamon, nutmeg

NOSE SHERRY, dried dark fruit, printer’s ink, leather, chocolate, roasted malt, copper, oak, and a hint of marmalade sweetness. Depth... this possesses significant depth, and with each inhalation, I detect a subtle new note. Baking spice, fig, dates, brown sugar, and so on. It's delightful. PALATE Incorporate all the aromatic notes, plus a bit more ink, copper, oak, and a touch of tart cherries, resulting in a darker yet fuller rendition of the aroma. It's a pure joy to sip. FINISH Extended -> Dried dark fruit, leather, pastries, oak, copper, baking spice, and blackberries.

I must admit, this one didn't captivate me like the initial Rare Cask release. The aroma and finish are both outstanding. However, my palate detected a minty/menthol flavor that detracted from the overall experience. I tried to appreciate the combination, but it didn't work for me. It might seem overly critical to point this out if this expression were readily available at a standard bar. Mint notes are suitable in other whiskies. I just didn't feel it was perfectly integrated here. The 2020 rare cask remains, in my opinion, the best Irish whiskey I've ever had.

Limited Edition #2, 51.6% ABV

Unbelievable... wow.