Green Spot Chateau Montelena Single Pot Still

Could Redbreast and Green Spot be the Beatles and Rolling Stones of Irish whiskey? One consistently releases fantastic albums of smooth pop excellence while the other delivers edgy, high-energy singles year after year, making a definitive choice nearly impossible. When my partner and I moved into our home nearly a decade ago, my uncle gave us a bottle of Redbreast 12 for our housewarming, and up to that point, it was the best Irish whiskey I had ever sampled (though admittedly my prior experience was limited to Jameson and Tully). Since then, my Irish whiskey collection has grown to include bottles of Writer's Tears and Knappogue, but tonight, I tried Green Spot, and if we're sticking with the musical comparisons, Green Spot is the Beatles to Redbreast's Stones. Seriously, how had this Irish whiskey escaped me my entire life? The funny confession: I still haven't tried regular Green Spot, which might be why I'm comparing this one to the Beatles. The Chateau Montelena, having been finished in Zinfandel casks, adds a fruity sweetness comparable to a piano ballad, but while I dislike Paul McCartney's piano ballads, I adore this flavor and aroma. And like a Paul ballad, the path that led me to this Green Spot was somewhat lengthy. By that, I mean it was ranked #16 on the Whisky Advocate Top 20 in 2018, which brought it to my attention, and a close friend from Chicago (whom I've mentioned before in my whiskey reviews as a significant influence on my drinking choices) purchased a bottle of the standard Green Spot this past St. Patrick's Day during our FaceTime call and praised it highly. At that point, I knew I wouldn't have to wait long to get my own bottle, although it was somewhat coincidental that Montelena became available as an online-only option in our local stores, and I noticed and quickly bought it. The aroma is as delightful as strolling through a field of strawberries, with the wine heavily influencing the scent to make the berries prominent, perhaps the most prominent note, but there's also vanilla and a hint of spice. The palate is rich and creamy (the creaminess being my favorite aspect), though naturally, being Irish, there are also apple/pear and grain flavors present. In the finish, I even detect something like vanilla milkshake, which might be what the bottle description refers to as marzipan, a substance I've never encountered but my partner tells me is a sweetened almond paste. It's a pleasant whiskey to savor slowly, allowing the experience to extend as long as possible without rushing to finish the glass. I opened this bottle with my partner tonight on the back porch since my partner, when she drinks whiskey, prefers Irish whiskey, and we enjoyed a glass together as darkness fell over the house, appreciating the glow of the overhead lights. Now I am at my parents' house, drinking it with my father and preparing to watch our football team suffer a significant defeat (because they are playing last year's Super Bowl champions; though as an update: they did make it a competitive game and lost by a smaller margin than anticipated), but at least the whiskey is good. I have seen this priced at $100 in some states, but I would never spend that much of my money on it. I acquired it for $64.99, and at that price, I would strongly advise purchasing it. Here, the stock depleted within two weeks (I made the purchase when only 12 bottles remained online), so my recommendation is to act without delay. If you are an Irish whiskey enthusiast, you will not be disappointed.

After completing my reviews for the Knappogue Castle Wine Cask series, I feel this is a good time to evaluate this one. I'm a big admirer of the standard Green Spot. The extended time in what I understand to be premium Zinfandel wine casks should introduce some interesting complexities. Nose: Significant butterscotch and shortbread cookie, similar to the original GS. Strawberry, raspberry, red apple, pear, and apricot. Banana and coconut along with orange citrus. Cranberry, grape, raisin. Vanilla, toffee, honey, and cream. Toasted marshmallow. A fruity, sweet, yet light aroma. Prominent oak notes as well. The faintest hint of metallic grain. White chocolate, as indicated on the packaging. Barely perceptible and doesn't detract. A promising start. Palate: Another fruit medley. Red apple, pear, apricot, grape and plum, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, and raisin. Orange, banana, and coconut. Caramel, toffee, honey, butterscotch, and shortbread cookie. More toasted marshmallow. Some additional jammy sweetness. Cereal and malt. Oaky once more. Very, very similar to the nose. Finish: Cranberry, raspberry, raisin red fruit notes persist. Dry red fruit, indicating the strong wine cask influence. The oak is also present, not to mention a cinnamon tingle, some nutmeg, and clove. The increase from 40% to 46% ABV significantly enhances what is a moderate-length finish. A commendable Irish whiskey. It's yet another instance demonstrating why Irish whiskey is unjustly undervalued in today's whiskey culture, which heavily favors Scotch and bourbon. You would be foolish to dismiss the category when offerings like this are available. This can stand up to any of the KC wine cask releases in terms of quality. Considering it costs 50% more and has no age statement, it represents inferior value. Nevertheless, a definite quality drop. You can still find these, and I strongly suggest it as an excellent example of what the Emerald Isle can produce.

Aroma: Oily cereal (typical of pot still), vanilla, white grape juice, gooseberries, red apples. Floral scents emerge as it rests and opens in the glass (jonquils, hyacinth, honeysuckle). There's an initial, slightly off-putting touch of acetone in the aroma that quickly vanishes. Adding water mutes the aroma (perhaps negatively), making the barley scents dusty and warm, which is quite pleasant, and it also removes any spirit-like intrusions. Palate: Sweet cereal with notable body, barley sugar, fresh brioche, buttery malt, apples, sweet white wine. The progression brings forward both vanilla and grapefruit, an unusual combination that works. The texture is rich and very oily. Diluting the spirit slightly with a couple of drops of water softens and harmonizes the palate very well. Finish: Medium length. Sweet and mildly spicy, it fades to dryness in the aftertaste with a zesty, almost bitter citrus note. Water extends the finish and adds some warm spice. I'm uncertain of the batch number as my sample didn't include that detail, but I suspect it's from the 2021 release. Similar to a previous review of a wine-finished Green Spot, this is a pleasant and very easy-to-drink expression, but it's debatable whether the increased cost over regular Green Spot makes it a worthwhile purchase. It's unlikely you'd find this now, but when it was available, it cost about 50% more than regular Green Spot. Still, it's a skillfully executed white wine finish and certainly a delicious whisky, though I perceived its youthfulness on several occasions. Initially, I planned to give it the same score as the previous wine-finished expression, but after adding a few drops of water, it improved so much that I'm increasing the score by one point. Tasted from a 30ml sample. Rating: "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Nose is very fruity with cereal grains, reminiscent of a mature Fruity Pebbles or Fruit Loops. It sounds strange, but it works, as if the cereal bowl is filled with red wine instead of milk. This mature profile feels robust. The vaguely tropical fruit mingles well with the cereal notes and a distinct red wine character. Additionally, hints of raisin (or other less sweet dried fruit) and toffee/caramel provide balance and depth. P: Essentially mirrors the nose, though the order might differ. I detect raisin, toffee, red wine grapes, red wine, pot still spice, caramel, and vanilla. This transitions to an oaky bitterness that acts as an early or mid-finish. A faint trace of chocolate is also present. The finish features pot still spice overlaying lingering oak tannins and a touch of vanilla. This is truly delicious, and I've thoroughly enjoyed this bottle. (I opened it on inauguration day, feeling that an Irish whiskey finished in California wine barrels was somehow fitting for the new administration.) However, I don't think I'd choose this over the standard Green Spot again. The fresh green apple in that expression is just exceptionally intriguing and appealing to me, and it costs $30-40 less. If the pricing were identical, I might alternate between them, but this isn't quite worth the considerable price increase. Setting aside value, this is a very pleasant Irish single pot still whiskey with a red wine twist that is effective and interesting – the wine barrels are not merely a gimmick. Definitely worth sampling if you enjoy red wine and Irish whiskey.

Aroma: Immediately, a very gentle scent is perceived; it isn't harsh despite being a non-chill filtered whiskey. It carries the essence of vanilla, common in most whiskies, but also a subtle hint of cherries and pomegranate in the air. There's a presence of baked or even burnt sugar, accompanied by a good amount of toastiness. The sweet aroma of orchard fruits found in the standard Green Spot also makes an appearance. A touch of wood spice emerges in the middle and end. Taste: Dangerously smooth. The wine influence is prominent, and the pot still spice is harmoniously blended with red berries, toasted marshmallows, and a nuttiness akin to almonds. The banana bread character evolves into richer fruits and spices, creating a rather complex whiskey. The creamy vanilla is also present, with a faint sensation of maple in the background and hints of cinnamon. Finish: Wonderfully long. There was a slight sense of dry chocolate upon exiting, with the tingle of spices dancing. More orchard fruits also appear. It's the kind of finish that invites you to return and revisit it again and again.

The aroma is strong and sweet with gentle vanilla, orchard fruits (apple, pear), buttered toast, white grape, nutmeg, and aged sweet oak. Very welcoming. The taste begins with a burst of fruits; I dislike repeating the word “orchard” but it truly fits. Apple, peach, plum, grape, tart raspberry, banana, and strawberry. Also present are vanilla, honey, butterscotch, powdered sugar, marzipan, and the buttered toast from the aroma. A great deal is happening here. The finish is drying and unexpectedly enduring for the alcohol content. Warm cinnamon spice, nutmeg, gentle oak, white pepper, clove, and a touch of pot still funk. The texture is smooth and creamy, definitely enhancing the experience. A wonderful whiskey, once more demonstrating that the “Spot” line of whiskies are among the finest Irish whiskies globally. At $104, it's not inexpensive but likely fairly priced for the caliber. Unsure if I would buy it again, but that's a personal budget issue rather than a flaw in the product.