Gold Spot 9 Year Single Pot Still

Tasting the exceptionally delicious and sweet Green Spot changed my view on Irish Whiskey. I used to think they were uninspired, boring blends lacking character. While some Irish whiskies are excellent, like Redbreast, I felt they were all quite similar. I was mistaken. After Green Spot, I sought out all the other "spot" whiskies available locally. To my surprise, I found this gem at my regular liquor store. I had to have it. The nose is truly delightful. You immediately notice the higher proof, with a touch of ethanol that enhances rather than overwhelms the other aromas. Juicy, sweet apples mingle with sugary caramel and baking spices. A subtle citrus note appears near the end of the aroma. I'm eager to taste it. The palate begins sweet and tart, with candied apples for a brief moment. A wave of caramel, vanilla, and baking spice coats the tongue, leaving a surprisingly substantial mouthfeel, similar in texture to Blanton's Single Barrel – rich and oily, but not syrupy. Mid-palate, apple returns alongside raisins and dates. The sweetness briefly gives way to the finish. Tannic oak dominates, but a hint of sugary creme brulee lingers behind. Inhaling through the mouth reveals a quick burst of sweetness that vanishes like a phantom. This is absolutely one of the best Irish Whiskeys I've ever had. If you have a bottle and a friend who judges Irish whiskies by brands like Jameson or Proper 12, share this with them. It will enlighten them. It's that good.

Full disclosure: I encountered several seemingly average reviews prior to tasting, so I anticipated being somewhat underwhelmed. Additionally, Irish whiskey isn't my usual preference. Beyond Redbreast Cask Strength, I haven't been particularly impressed. However, I believe I'm developing an appreciation for the subtle complexities of Irish whiskey, so there's some optimism. The aroma starts robustly, as is common with many Irish whiskies (the palate is often where the disappointment lies for me). There's an unexpected, significant presence of dark caramel – the bourbon barrels appear to exert a dominant influence initially. Allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then, tropical fruit emerges, followed by red fruit. Notes of pineapple, green banana, toasted coconut, various berries, all enveloped in vanilla whipped cream. Hints of shortbread cookie. Some clove, possibly nutmeg. A solid aroma, but let's examine the palate. The palate, surprisingly, doesn't disappoint. I suspect the higher alcohol content contributes here. All the aromas detected are present on the palate. There's a pleasing depth, and the flavors are well-integrated. One can discern many elements without being overwhelmed by just one or two dominant notes. For comparison, I sampled this alongside a couple of other Irish whiskies from my collection. This was clearly superior to Knappogue 12 Marchesi finish. Compared to Redbreast Cask Strength, I found the aroma of this one to be better. The palate of the RB offered a more intense burst of flavor – likely due to its higher proof – but this possessed greater depth and intrigue. Is it as good as Redbreast Cask Strength? I'm uncertain, perhaps. It held its own in the small tasting session. However, I was partly expecting it to be unremarkable, so perhaps my low expectations influenced my perception. The value proposition is somewhat questionable, as this appears to retail for around $130 in the US, if it's even available. My last bottle of RBCS cost $65, but those prices seem to be a thing of the past, as it now typically costs $90 or more wherever I see it. I acquired this for $110, so the price difference isn't substantial, and ultimately, I'm content at that cost. A rating in the 4.25 to 4.5 range seems appropriate.

The Spot series feels like the Marvel movies of the whiskey world. Just when you think you’ve experienced a good one, they release several more that are also good. However, at some point, it becomes too much and I desire something completely different. It seems they are just repeating themselves, offering the same thing with a different superpower. I feel like I’m experiencing that with these Spot series. I’m at the point of “enough already…all they’re doing is simply increasing the price and adding a new frickin color”. This is the latest Spot. Nine years matured in bourbon, Sherry, Bordeaux wine, and port pipes. A robust 51% ABV. I’m only having a small pour…I was actually surprised to find this on the shelf at an upscale Asian fusion restaurant in Kauai. From my understanding, it’s not a standard release, but quite limited. I’m not sure of the bottle count. Pineapples. That’s all I detect on the nose. Plenty of pineapples. It’s like I’m sitting in the middle of a Dole pineapple plantation. Not that it’s a negative thing. I love pineapples..so, yeah, I’m good. But if you’re not a fan of the yellow temptress of the fruit kingdom, look elsewhere. This is a full body and mind immersion into pineapples. On a side note—did you know there’s such a thing as a white pineapple? It’s sweeter, less acidic, and you can eat the core! Anyway…back to this…the palate is a bit less focused on the pineapple, more on bread and bakery items. Some fruit…peaches…Sherry and red berries (from the port pipe?). A nice balance of red fruit, baked goods, with added heft from the ABV. Overall, this is really good. I only had a small pour, but if the price is right (

The nose is dominated by fruit, with sweet, ripe orchard fruits mingling with the clean, grassy cereal notes characteristic of a fine Irish whiskey. A subtle warmth at the end signals its cask strength nature. The aroma is lovely, though perhaps lacking the depth of complexity found in the blue spot. The first sip bursts with baking spices, cinnamon, and ripe bananas; it has a definite kick. This is not a dessert beverage. It's almost overwhelmingly complex, which is both intriguing and confusing. The finish is moderately long, with baking spices and plum lingering in the background. I've now sampled all the spots except for the wine-finished green ones. My ranking, disregarding cost, is roughly: blue > gold > red > yellow, followed by green. When value is considered, the yellow moves above the red. I was fortunate to acquire a blue very early in its release but had to wait nearly three years for a second and third bottle. The gold spot was exceedingly difficult to find and became a sought-after prize for my companions and me until we finally located one. I understand the excitement surrounding it, but the blue still surpasses it for me. I appreciate the contained and reserved nature of the blue. While they share similar notes and flavors, the gold presents them all at once, holding them until you're overwhelmed. The blue is like a jazz ensemble that builds gradually, but when all the elements harmonize, it creates something greater than the sum of its parts. I'm pleased I had the opportunity to try this and would likely purchase another at its suggested retail price.

I kept overlooking this, but it was available at a friend's establishment, and I decided to pick something up. The 140 proof is a bit intense but not unpleasant. Nose - I appreciate the jammy note often found in Irish spirits with pot still character. This one, however, initially presents a wild array of fruits. Consider a waxy citrus lime, but with added complexity. Toasted oak, but more like the kind found on buttered toast rather than the overpowering American craft toasted profiles. I begin to detect notes reminiscent of a jolly rancher, a blend of pink and green without the sourness. Now, strawberry notes are becoming more prominent, even some creaminess. There are 4-5 fruit flavors I can't identify or simply don't recognize. It's very fruit-forward. Taste - Creamier, with oak, and still all those fruits. A rich mouthfeel and good initial flavor. The finish is pleasant but simple and understated, though with some nice Irish spice. A genuinely good whisky, contrary to some reviews I'd seen. I find it perfectly acceptable. I haven't tried the blue spot, but I need to, yet I'm satisfied with this one. I'd prefer it at a lower price, but the yellow spot costs over $100 and isn't nearly as good as this. I'm giving this a very strong 2.5. For context, 2.0 is average. This is considerably better, but I reserve 3.0 for something truly special. This falls slightly short of that mark for me.

Aroma: Vanilla, caramel, with hints of raisin and cinnamon. Oak appears with water, but the aroma remains the same. Taste: Caramel, vanilla, a touch of mint, sweet raisins, dark berries, and dark chocolate. The proof offers a gentle tingle, which lessens with water, making it less oily and slightly drier, but otherwise unchanged. Finish: Caramel, vanilla, and dark chocolate. Adding water does not alter the finish. Score: 85/100 Final Remarks: As this was a sample, I'm unsure if it was mislabeled. The initial nose strongly suggested a cask strength bourbon with a port or sherry finish. It presented classic bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla, a hint of oak, and cinnamon, with a touch of dark raisin sweetness characteristic of port or sherry barrel influence on bourbon. This profile carried through to the palate without much change and the finish also felt distinctly bourbon-like. While it's the most bourbon-like Irish whiskey I've encountered, and not necessarily a negative, it felt very different from most Irish whiskies. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - No Note: All reviews exclude price considerations.