Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Whiskey

I'd dare anyone to find a superior Irish whiskey under $50. As a primarily bourbon drinker, any spirit at 80 proof tastes bland to me. However, until you reach over $45, most options are 80 proof, except for this one. It's 92 proof and unfiltered, costing less than $30. The only other Irish whiskeys under $50 I would consider are from specific brands, costing closer to $40-45. I concede the finish is underwhelming, but the palate is creamy with a great mouthfeel and pleasant sweetness from the malt. Bourbon cask influence is evident in the vanilla finish, but it's too brief and has a hint of young ethanol. Still, much better than others.

As a scotch and Irish whiskey guy, I was reluctant to buy this bottle. The reviews were moderate - neither good nor bad - and because it was inexpensive, I figured it had to be bottom shelf. And that's exactly where I found it one day at the liquor store. I bought it. Even mediocre, it was 46% ABV. So what the heck. I bought it. Much better than I thought. Not too sweet, a nice 46% kick, and unlike the distiller notes - I did sip it neat - and it was very good. Not great. But very good.

NOSE Banana malt, hay, dried orchard fruit, vanilla, honey, and a subtle hint of oak. It has a very agreeable scent. It's not intricate, but the existing notes are warm, deep, and buttery. PALATE Honied orchard fruit, banana chips, hay-like malt, Cornpops, vanilla, and caramel with a slightly metallic undertone. Again, not complex, but the flavors present are buttery and warm. FINISH Medium to long -> Honey, dried fruit, malt, vanilla, and orange candy.

It's quite interesting that Bushmill's Prohibition Recipe is a nod to Peaky Blinders. It's surprisingly delicious! It seems young but is quite enjoyable! The nose immediately offers lemongrass, cinnamon, and honey, with a subtle hint of green apple appearing later. The palate features more lemon, orange peel, and honey, feeling very fresh with a cereal note emerging towards the end. A very pleasant experience! Cheers!

The aroma does carry ash and that malty quality from the grain. With several sniffs, it almost has a lemon-lime vibrancy. Upon the first taste, it feels more viscous than Bushmills original, offering a typical shortbread cookie flavor on the tongue, followed by a bitterness akin to eating raw walnuts on the finish. Overall, I enjoy it; it's not as polished as the original and was worth the $29 to me.

Aroma: shortbread cookies, vanilla, cereal and apple. Taste: vanilla, sweet wheat and banana. Finish: creamy vanilla upfront that transitions into a brown sugar mid-palate with a nice vanilla on the backend that lingers a bit. While this bottle is not sweet like the standard bottle, I feel the extra ABV gives it a nice punch with a rich taste.