Bushmills Steamship Collection Bourbon Cask Reserve

I joined a world whiskies online tasting event with ten samples, though one rum was included with the nine whiskies. See my review on Diplomatico Reserva. I was delighted to discover a rum that challenged my fondness for bourbon! This tasting was a gift for my partner for their 50th birthday. We each got a sample box and participated in the Zoom call together one night. It was fantastic, and I'm happy we had two boxes because by the final few samples, my tasting notes became questionable due to a significant buzz. Even with palate cleansers and coffee beans, my tasting likely wasn't as sharp as with the initial samples. We wisely chose to share the first box and save the second for tasting over a week to confirm our observations. I do appreciate Bushmills but had only tried a few expressions at that time: Black Bush, Red Bush, and the original. It was a pleasure to sample this Steamship edition. Appearance: Pale straw color. Nose: Salty air, vanilla, honey, melon. Body, Silky Flavor: A tingling, mild warmth, sea salt, lemon zest, like enjoying dessert by the sea, minerality, crackers. Finish: Mineral and sharp. Quite an experience! The experience shifted between sweet and smooth to zesty and sharp, with oceanic and mineral notes. In some ways, it was reminiscent of Seagrass from Barrell, not in flavor but in the feeling it evoked and its comparison to bourbon. I intend to purchase a bottle of each to compare them side-by-side over time, but I must say I enjoy this general flavor profile of sweet smoothness with fruitiness and sea spray.

Review #47 - Whisk(e)y #31 Purchased shortly after finishing the Bushmills Steamship Sherry Cask (which I surprisingly enjoyed a lot), and similarly, bought at a great discount, paying 36 euros (including shipping) for the 1L bottle. It's relatively oily in the glass with a golden-straw color. Nose - Sharp spice (almost grainy), oak, fresh fruit (red and yellow apples, pear), green, oily, honey. With oxidation, the spice mellows out, and the fresh fruit comes forward, with sweetness and very prominent honey. Palate - Creamy on the front end, spicy, some effervescence, oak, heavy vanilla and honey, prominent malt, and some sweetness, doughy, toasty. Finish - Medium-long, slightly dry, woody, still effervescent, oak spice, bright actually, with a slightly bitter vegetal note on the aftertaste... a strange association, but it tastes like celery root... this softens on subsequent sips, developing more into a grape note. Overall, it's a decent whisky, not as rich, pleasant, and complex as the Steamship Sherry Cask, which I got for the same price, and I definitely prefer over this one. Unfortunately, the rather strong vegetal finish detracts from the pleasantness of the palate. However, it still offers great value given what I paid for it, and the toasty malty note is truly wonderful. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

★★★★ A second steamship expression In this second steamship bottling, the aged spirit is found in bourbon barrels. I still question why we didn't begin with this one. It's smoother, less spicy, more delicate, and less full-bodied. Unless I'm missing something... Nevertheless, it's quite good!

Similar to Glen Grant 10 but less crisp and engaging. Possibly the reason for its higher-than-average score in the Whisky Bible. I would not repurchase it.

Enjoyed in a town called ouranoupoli with my brother and cousins during September 2020. A friend really liked it. A very good, easily drinkable whiskey with pleasant characteristics and a gentle finish.

The nose is very delicate, with faint hints of brine and fruit. The palate is oily, rich, and slightly bitter with a touch of heat. The finish is smooth, with some lingering char.