Connemara Turf Mór (Travel Retail Exclusive)

Irish whiskey tasting. Nose: Soft smoke with an herbal sweetness. A bonfire of dry leaves mingled with the scent of woodsmoke from a cottage chimney. A tiny, distant hint of iodine, diesel oil, and aniseed but it's not a medicinal nose. More like Campbeltown smoke than Islay smoke. Palate: Very soft and sweet arrival. The smoke and cereal flavors are inextricably melded into a pleasant and well-textured whole. Some fruity notes appear as it develops, but the swirl of soft smoke is the dominant feature and the palate is a bit lacking. Finish: Medium/long. The soft sweet smoky profile tails off into a lingering finish. Very nice and to be honest better than I was expecting. The profile is smoky and cereal but with a light dulcet background that is surprisingly successful. The only criticisms I'd make of this are that it is overly shy and soft, a little one-note, pretty obviously young, and way overpriced. There is probably some subtle complexity going on but even the light aromatic peat used in this whisky (which certainly does not seem like 50ppm) is sufficient to drown everything else. I have the feeling that without the smoky component this would be just plain and thin. I enjoyed it enough to consider buying a bottle for further tasting, but then saw the price which is, in my opinion, at least twice as much as it is worth. "Above Average": 80/100 (3 stars).

Why are the TRE versions typically inferior to the standard retail bottling? I sampled the retail Turf Mor years ago and enjoyed it enough to seek out that bottle. Unfortunately, it was sold out. Then, Batch 2 was released as a TRE version. Naturally, I naively purchased it, assuming it would be just as good. It is not. Far from it. I recall the original having an aroma akin to burning wood. This version has a phenolic smell, accompanied by a taste of wet rope on the palate. Not the romanticized wet rope often associated with Islay whiskies, but the actual taste of wet rope, as if you truly licked it. Imagine approaching a docked boat, grabbing the wet rope, and putting it in your mouth. That's what this is like. It's not quite a one-star rating, as it's drinkable, but it's not something I would ever order or buy again, even if it were nearly free. Addendum: I must stand corrected. Last night, the initial taste from the bottle was awful. Heat and burnt plastic. However, after letting it sit for a good half hour and adding a spoonful of water, the flavors truly harmonized. Now I detected the burning wood aromas and sea salt spray, all within a much lighter body than its Islay counterparts. It's still not on par with Lag, Ardbeg, or Laphroaig... but I paid $40 USD for this. At that price, it's a no-brainer. An amazing turnaround once you let it rest and add some water. A solid 3.5 stars, boosted slightly for that $40 price point.

This came from a collection of samples provided by a friend. Tonight, a pour is ready. Imagine the scent of old-fashioned barbecue charcoal, topped with grilled apples, apricots, and pears. Drizzle honey over the fruit. Grill and turn. Add cedar chips to the coals. Finally, squeeze fresh orange juice over the smoked, grilled fruit. The aroma is sweet, smoky, and fruity. It has a light, thin body with a subtle sweetness and sharp edges. Moving past the harshness reveals vanilla, cigar ash, lemon-orange citrus, and the grilled apple, apricot, and pear medley on the palate. They all emerge in a burst that fades slowly, like a dying firework. The tingling sensation of cigar ash and black pepper gives way to a touch of woodiness. The ash remains, leaving the mouth with an ashy, smoky, and mentholated feel. It possesses the clean character often found in Irish whiskey. The ash and sweetness are well-balanced, leaning towards the tobacco ash notes. A fine, peated Irish whiskey. It's light, elegant, and satisfying. [84/100][Tasted: 3/20/21]

A sample was provided by a friend. Thank you! Sample rating: Average +0. This is the same rating as Glenfiddich 12. For $40 USD, this gets 2.5 out of 5 stars (it's not bad, but not worth the price). It's Irish, so I detect potato notes. Is that a regional characteristic? There's fruitiness, but it's very immature, reminiscent of freshly fermented applesauce. The peat is medicinal, like a very young Laphroaig. I don't mind the aroma at all. The palate has some citrus, soot, and salt, similar to a very young Caol Ila. Did I mention this is a young spirit? The finish confirms the whiskey's lack of maturity. Any deeper or interesting flavors disappear abruptly, leaving you with cardboard and ethanol. Or, if you really focus: potatoes, vodka, and cigarettes. Basically, a breakfast of champions.