Limavady Single Barrel Single Malt

A random contest of Irish whiskeys is presented here. The Clonakilty and Limavady are both no-age-statement, while the Yellow Spot has a 12-year age statement. The Limavady is a single malt, but the Clonakilty and Yellow Spot are blends. Clonakilty and Limavady have similar price points, while Yellow Spot is usually three times that. All three are proper Irish Whiskeys, and that's a good enough link for another contest. The goal of these contest reviews is not to pick a single winner, but to better grasp the subjectivity of whiskey appreciation based on context and comparison. CLONAKILTY PORT CASK FINISH IRISH WHISKEY This whiskey is burnt-orange amber, the second darkest or lightest in the group, similar to Pantone 144. The fruity aroma has apples, peaches, sweet cherries, a bit of honey, and some vanilla. The taste is sweet and gently creamy, somewhat like strawberry ice cream, yet it remains light. There's a mild bitterness at the end, adding depth rather than being unpleasant, followed by a hint of white pepper and lingering honey and vanilla in the finish. This is my first time trying Clonakilty, and it was a pleasant surprise. I anticipated something more robust due to the port finish, but this whiskey has some body while still being quite fruity. This particular Clonakilty expression can be found for $50-55. I would purchase it again. 3.75 out of 5 stars. 43.6% ABV. Not chill filtered. Batch # 038. 7,000 bottles made. It's unclear if E150a coloring was added. LIMAVADY SINGLE BARREL SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY Visually, it's dried hay and light amber, the palest of the three whiskies in this contest (Pantone 143). Initially, there's a fleeting herbal quality (parsley? Bell pepper?) that dissipates. A distinct banana chip note, along with Circus Peanuts marshmallow candy, some Cheerios cereal, and after considerable back-and-forth among the three whiskeys here, some butterscotch. There's also a musty, damp wood aroma that isn't unpleasant, instead evoking the idea of Irish Whiskey aged in underground cellars. The palate has a nice oiliness, with more circus peanuts, before a peppery note emerges along with the same Circus Peanuts, some not disagreeable bitter espresso, and a hint of toffee in the finish. Limavady is the sole single-malt, single-barrel Irish whiskey in this selection. Subjectively, it feels more 'compact' than the others and consequently, more intellectually demanding to describe. The single-barrel nature means yearly variations are possible, even within the same year. One cannot establish a trend from a single data point, but my experience with this one will encourage me to seek out another. At $40-50, Limavady offers good value, especially given its uniqueness. I would buy it again. 3.5+ out of 5 stars. As a side note: the stopper is the most difficult I've ever encountered on any consumable, short of a child-proof medicine bottle. It's solid glass with a silicone seal and requires significant effort to open. I had to use both hands, pushing up with my thumbs to release it. It's distinctive but very inconvenient. The website states the bottle design pays homage to the original 1750s style with an old-school 'blob top.' I appreciate old-school, but the perceived elegance of this 'blob top' is like the knuckle-scraping appearance of a Ford Model A hand crank. 46% ABV. Barrel # 0143. Bottle # 746 of 846. It's uncertain if E150a coloring is included, but this one is the lightest of the three. YELLOW SPOT 12-YEAR SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY The color is a deep burnt orange, the darkest of the three (Pantone 159). Tasted alongside the others, the aroma is like a warm hug. It brings to mind orange oil, sandalwood, fruitcake, mulled cider, sandalwood again, some vanilla, and a strawberry note—reminiscent of Strawberries Romanoff at Sparks in NYC (which includes Grand Marnier in the whipped cream). This whiskey is calming and soothing, like a professional massage for the senses. The palate is thick and coats the tongue; it's slightly woody, with vanilla, yellow raisins, and a return of the orange oil from the nose. The alcohol content is well-integrated, with a subtle presence at the end, finishing with a pleasant woody vanilla note. The moment Yellow Spot touches your lips, you know you're drinking something exceptional. I've now sampled Green, Yellow, Blue, and Red Spot Irish whiskies. Yellow Spot is delicious, and it ought to be for the price (around $150 when available). It's costly. However, as good as it is, in my opinion, it ranks third in that lineup (Blue #1, Red #2, Yellow #3, Green #4), which speaks to the quality of the entire range. Would I buy it again? (This was a gift). Yes. I would like to always keep all the Spots (Green, Yellow, Blue, Red) available. 4.5+ out of 5 stars. 46% ABV. Not chill filtered. E150a coloring was added. CONCLUSION This contest was insightful. Each whiskey showcased unique characteristics that were highlighted when compared to the others. Clonakilty is the fruitiest and sweetest; Limavady is more tightly focused, similar to a young cabernet sauvignon, though whiskey doesn't soften with age like cabernet does. Yellow Spot is in a different league: it's confident, commanding, and draws your attention compared to the other two. All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass. A note: The entire review was written while listening to Dave Brubeck's "Time Out." on Apple Music. I saw Dave Brubeck perform live about 35 years ago, possibly before or right after their tour of the USSR—which, regrettably, dates me. But I do recall tapping my foot to "Take Five" in 5/4 time.

Smell: Stale bread, yeast, green apple, apple peel, raw banana, berries, vanilla, cinnamon, spearmint. Taste: Roasted barley, fruit, vanilla, barrel spice. A subtle savory quality adds just enough intrigue. As I understand, it's around five years old, finished in ex-bourbon and PX casks, but it's a skillfully made spirit. As it's a single barrel, I'm interested to see if barrels differ significantly. Since it was on sale for $18, I picked up eight bottles from barrels 81 and 82, though I'll gift all but two for the holidays. Update: The bottle from Barrel 81 has a bit more ethanol and lacks the intriguing savory note found in the Barrel 82 bottle. Therefore, I anticipate considerable variation between barrels.

This is a rich, Single Barrel Single Malt Irish Whiskey created by Master Distiller Darryl McNally for Limavady Distillery in Ireland. It's made with 100% Irish Barley and triple distilled in Copper Pot Stills. It was aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished in ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, bottled at 46% ABV. The aroma is inviting, with hints of grain, wood, dried fruits, herbs, and spices. The rich body reveals notes of plums and vanilla, leading to a medium-length warm finish with hints of oak, caramel, and almonds. Sampled January 2024.

NOSE Banana candy, malty sweetness, vanilla sweets, graham cracker, dried apples, a bit waxy and floral. A pretty standard aroma without anything harsh or off-putting. PALATE Banana candy, malty sweetness, vanilla sweets, graham cracker, dried apples, a bit waxy and caramel. Not significantly different from the aroma and, again, a rather typical delivery. FINISH Medium -> Banana, vanilla, baking spice and graham cracker.

Okay, this one has me interested… perhaps it’s the luck of the Irish! Anyway, of the whiskies of this type, this might be my favorite so far! I enjoy the mystery of the flavor, though I did note some specifics. It has a slight woody character to me, but no peat. It starts to develop some warmth, but that subsides nicely before it becomes overpowering. I might keep this one on my bar top!

The sherry is prominent on the first scent. Sweet, fruity aromas of licorice, caramel, banana, strawberry. A strong intensity on the first sip, with a cola menthol taste that persists. However, the intensity lingers longer than the taste. A solid bourbon I'd spend over $30 for. It tastes like Port and Bourbon had offspring.