Midleton Very Rare 2017

Nose: A fragrant mix of cereal and tropical fruits like mango, guava, and peaches, with a toffee base. As it sits, oak becomes noticeable, adding an aromatic incense quality. This aroma continues to evolve, revealing pineapple, mandarin, grilled banana, red berries, rose petals, hibiscus, and warm spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. It's a lovely scent. Palate: A comforting blend of cereal flavors with just the right amount of sweetness. It's very easy to drink and remarkably smooth. Notes of dried fruit, vanilla, sweet orchard fruits, and a hint of gentle spice like nutmeg, sweet cinnamon, and cloves. The texture is excellent, having a delicate silky quality that's perfectly balanced between creamy and light. Finish: Medium length, fading gently with a subtle hint of licorice. The nose is outstanding for its depth, fragrance, and freshness, leading smoothly into the palate. The all-bourbon cask aging has greatly developed the aroma. The palate is so smooth that it can initially seem to disappear quickly into the finish, leaving only a long cereal aftertaste. The subtlety is revealed on subsequent sips, with a seamless progression from entry to finish. A superb whiskey, well worth the cost. This is a batch release, and batches can differ significantly. While I've had several over the years, this is among the best. My only critique is that it's almost too soft and gentle; a slight increase in intensity while maintaining the profile would make it perfect. Bottling at a higher proof would also be desirable, but this 40% bottling works well, despite my usual preference for higher proofs. It's a delicate whiskey, so I strongly advise against adding water. Sampled from a 30ml portion. Rated 87/100 (4.25 stars).

A light whiskey packed with bright fruit notes and a spicy end. The recipe, developed by the head distiller, combines pot still and grain spirits from 12-to-32-year-old ex-Bourbon casks. The 2017 bottling contains the oldest spirits ever included: a 32-year-old grain spirit and a 26-year-old pot still spirit. Smell - Bright and fruity, with hints of apricot, pineapple, red apples, ginger, marzipan, and fruitcake. Palate - Gentle, velvety, and juicy, featuring tastes of apricot, dried citrus, honey, pineapple, and mango. Subtle spices transition into the finish. (Based on existing critiques)

This is my go-to Irish whiskey. It's like the first spirit I ever loved. If you enjoy Irish whiskey, this is truly excellent. It's my absolute favorite. The aroma is a subtler, more intricate, and very welcoming version of Jameson. The texture feels luxurious, silky, rich, and persistent. The flavor is pure luxury, like buttercream frosting, buttery biscuits, and sweet, melted caramel. The aftertaste is extended and fantastic; it's so smooth that I let it linger in my mouth for about half a minute, revealing the oak and depth. Outstanding.

Very smooth, quite drinkable with sweetness and fruit. It's clearly some aged, sophisticated whiskey. I miss the sherry notes I enjoy in scotch, and it's just too smooth, too low proof for me personally, though it would work as an early day or lunchtime drink. I would appreciate this as a cask strength version. I'd call this whiskey "lite," perhaps too successfully done, though it would certainly appeal to the occasional whiskey drinker. I'm giving it a 4 because it's flawless, but I can't rate it higher because it lacks the complexity, proof, and classic sherry notes that I prefer.

I can't fathom why this excellent whiskey is rated so poorly. It's the smoothest whiskey I've ever tasted, and it's a blend. Maybe its smooth, creamy character makes people want a different whiskey experience. It's only 80 proof? And, of course, the price (how much is for the beautiful wood box? I can just imagine people thinking). All good, as it means more of this fantastic, very rare Irish spirit for me. $220 USD in PA

While I'm not typically fond of grain whisky, this blend of aged grain and pot still is exceptionally smooth, triple distilled, and velvety. The aroma is distinctly Irish, with fruit and honey; the taste is subtly spicy, semi-sweet, and smooth. It's very easy to drink with a gentle finish. It feels a bit thin, and I suspect a higher proof would improve it, but it's a minor flaw. It's akin to the Johnny Walker Blue of Ireland.