Gold Spot 13 Year Generations Edition

I was not previously fond of Irish whiskeys until about 2 years ago when I first tried Green Spot. It was decent—not amazing, but decent. It was good enough for me to look for the rest of the line until I found Gold Spot. Easily one of the most flawless Irish—no, I would even say; whiskeys in general. So this new, limited release 13 year Gold Spot has a lot to prove. I try not to build things up before tasting them, but I have enthusiastically hyped this one. Well, today, a magnificent package arrived directly from the UK. Sweet, bright juiciness from red apples tantalizes the nose, alongside some overripe strawberry. A hint of slightly bitter tannins emerges deeper in the aroma, with baking spice and almond paste. This lends an unexpected depth and savory quality to the smell. Tart fruit sweetness leads the palate but is not dominated by berries. There are definitely notes of sweet and tart raspberry, along with the strawberries from the nose, but the dominant fruit here is delicious, deep red apples. The taste is almost succulent in this regard. While the mid-palate does become a bit dry, there's barely anything overly tannic or spicy in the taste. It's so smooth and well-integrated. The latter half of the palate introduces a subtly tannic and spicy character, but it rides on the back of that red, crisp apple. The finish is lengthy and satisfying. In the wake of tart apple, tannic oak, and slightly tart berry, mingle just enough baking spice to create a tingle on the tongue, but it's not sharp by any means. A captivating, well-balanced finish to a captivating, well-balanced Irish Whiskey. My goodness. This Gold Spot 13 year Generations edition has done it. An Irish Whiskey that surpasses the 9 year Gold Spot, which I completely adored. I will be very disappointed when I finish the last drop of this... I suppose that means I'll just have to go online and order another bottle.

I got a little bit of this, intrigued because it was a new "limited" Spot release. And, for absolutely no reason, to have tried them all. I get the impression the Spots are like rival siblings, all attempting to surpass one another. They're all decent, but a couple are truly remarkable enough to catch the eye and justify the high prices they command. This one involves a puzzling and intricate aging method, all intended to create a richer and more intricate taste. The aroma is aromatic and fruity. The taste has caramel, fruits (like red berries and apples), and a bready quality. The finish lasts. It's expensive, around $150. For me, I wouldn't purchase it. It didn't impress me as much as the Blue did. The Blue, at least for me, has established the standard, and I've yet to encounter a Spot that has dethroned it. Your mileage may vary... to each their own... but I'd prefer to get the Blue, which is reasonably priced overseas at $110-120.

Smooth and caramelly. Not as good as the red spot. It's the second-best 'spot' whiskey I've tried.