Bushmills Steamship Collection Sherry Cask Reserve

Review #46 - Whisk(e)y #30 I secured this 1L bottle for 31 euros (plus an additional 6 euros for shipping), which appears to be an excellent deal considering its typical price range of 50 to 90 euros or more. It has a golden-amber color with long legs and a viscous texture in the glass. Nose - Spice, fresh fruit (apples), some dried fruit (though less pronounced than anticipated), oak, caramel, and sweetness. Palate - Quite sherry-spice forward (cinnamon, but also oak), not sharp, but rather warming, with a faint green, herbal note. It fades fairly quickly, revealing underlying notes that are sweet, malty, and surprisingly creamy, with milk chocolate, honey, caramel, and notes of plums, figs, and dates. Finish - Medium, dry, and oaky...the dryness intensifies towards the end, culminating in a slight, pleasant bitterness that adds dimension. The aftertaste develops a very distinct raisin note, with underlying figs, which is quite enjoyable. Overall, the whisky evolves beautifully in 5 stages. On the back end, it resembles an intensified, maltier version of Dewar's 12...this comparison might seem unusual given the different categories of these whiskies, but it holds true. My expectations were rather low, having seen comments describing it as overly spicy, thin, or bitter...but everything develops harmoniously and is well-integrated. Upon further tasting, the raisin notes are strikingly prominent on the palate, which is quite surprising. I genuinely enjoy it, and at the price I paid, it offers outstanding value. 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

In Denver for work (sadly, not for the slopes), I saw this at the hotel bar. It was sealed, a little grimy, and placed between a JB and Redbreast. Triple distilled Irish whiskey aged in sherry wood? That's unusual, right? Regardless, it was worth a taste. It's light and sweet, but not excessively so. It has a solid foundation of raisins and dark fruits. Would I purchase a whole bottle? Likely not, but it's worth sampling if you encounter it at a pub.

I decided to have a relaxed Saturday afternoon with some Whittakers dark chocolate (fijian ginger and NZ mandarin) and thought, why not pair it with a whiskey? This was a great match. It has sweet green spiced oak, burnt toffee, and much more going on. Its alcohol content belies a nice spicy kick that lasts long after the last sip. At $75, it's a fair to great value. Of several drams tried today, it was definitely the best.

A first taste of the steamship. I began tasting the 3 steamships from Bushmills before our tour. Oh, that's delightful! I'm starting to consider bringing back more bottles than legally allowed. However, I'll reconsider when I see the cost. It's fruity, spicy, chocolatey, and famously sweet. Exactly to my taste.

It's delicious and glides down easily, yet the multitude of flavors prevent any single one from shining. There's smoke, a sweet sherry end note, and a hint of honey that comes to mind. It's smooth, bordering on silky, but rather unexciting overall.

Mild aroma, initial smokiness (after opening up) and a sweet sherry finish. A well-balanced Irish whiskey, but it seems somewhat lacking in flavor.