Paul John Christmas Edition 2019

My tasting approach this year will be different. Instead of reviewing one whisky at a time, I'll be comparing several in one sitting. This comparative method, even across different spirit types like bourbon, scotch, and rye, helps me understand my preferences and identify flavors better than focusing on a single dram. The order of tasting matters; a lighter spirit might seem better when tasted before a stronger one, but it doesn't mean the lighter one is inherently bad, especially if priced well. Price influences enjoyment, so I'll continue to mention cost and value, noting if a whisky is good but overpriced and suggesting a fairer price based on my own budget. Comparing multiple spirits isn't new. Some reviewers, for instance, pit similar whiskies against each other, like Larceny BP versus Elijah Craig BP. However, my tasting order will often be random, based on what bottles I have available. This particular tasting occurred last Sunday while watching the Eagles play the Giants. The Eagles had already secured their playoff position, so the game outcome was inconsequential. With backup players on the field, including the third-string quarterback, it highlights how rough things have been for the Giants' fans that we still won against their starting lineup. The three whiskies tasted that evening, in order, were: 1. Talisker 8 Year Tidal Churn (2024 Special Edition); 2. Paul John 2019 Christmas Edition Indian Single Malt Whisky; and 3. Barrell New Year Bourbon 2024. Let's dive in. Talisker 8 Year Tidal Churn (2024 Special Edition) Diageo's special releases have always tempted me, but two factors held me back: availability in Pennsylvania and their high cost. This year, however, travel to Maryland and Delaware allowed me to visit Total Wine. My wife's interest in cocktails led us to explore more options. While I enjoy Talisker 10 and the Distiller's Edition, I had never tried a cask strength Talisker. At $110, it was the most affordable special release, so I decided to treat myself. The description of its maturation—refill & ex-bourbon American oak, finished in stone-spun & toasted American oak casks—meant little to me, but I was eager to try it. The packaging mentioned waves of apple and pear with maritime smoke, which sounded perfect for me. I had a small taste on Christmas Eve with my brother-in-law, who is a Talisker fan, but due to its high proof, I saved the main tasting for later, during the Eagles game, about ten days after opening. Nose: I mentioned maritime smoke, but honestly, I'm not sure what that means beyond salt and peat. The 'waves of pear and apple' also seem exaggerated. There's orchard fruit, leaning more towards pear than apple, but the distinction is minor, like arguing over peaches versus nectarines. For me, the aroma consists of pear, salt, and peat, with a subtle hint of anise in the background. It's not quite as pleasing as this year's Talisker Distiller's Edition, which I also have open but didn't pour for comparison as I'm running low. The Tidal Churn offers more complexity than the 10, with added sweetness. Vanilla is present, and the peat integrates well without being overpowering. Over time, the anise note evolves into something reminiscent of pine. Palate: The palate opens with salt, followed by sweet vanilla. The fruit flavor is delicate, starting with a pear-like sweetness that shifts to a slight apple tartness, similar to Pink Lady apples, as it moves around the mouth. The peat is present but well-integrated. Despite the high proof, the heat is manageable for those accustomed to barrel-proof spirits. My dad, who sometimes comments on the heat of barrel-proof whiskies, found this 117.4 proof dram surprisingly smooth. It's not exceptionally complex. An expert review mentioned a meaty flavor, but I don't detect any bacon-like notes, which are present in the standard 10 but muted in the Distiller's Edition, and I don't find them here at all, unless 'meat' simply refers to the saltiness. Finish: The finish is medium in length, with pepper, fruit, and vanilla notes lingering from the palate. Overall, I enjoyed this whisky and am glad I tried it. However, at $110, it doesn't compel me to seek out future Special Releases, as the quality isn't significantly higher than their standard offerings. I also found Ardbeg's BizarreBQ, which I bought three bottles of for $85 each, to be a much better whisky. I'll happily finish this bottle, having already paid for it, but for value in the peated, high-proof category, there are better options. I generally don't add water when tasting, so I can't comment on how it performs with dilution. Paul John Christmas Edition 2019 Next is the Paul John Christmas Edition 2019. I bought it in 2022 along with the 2020 edition. The usual price was $85, but I got them for $42.50 each on clearance—a great deal. I opened the 2020 edition that year but saved the 2019 for a special occasion, finally opening it on December 23rd while wrapping presents. I rated the 2020 edition 3.75 stars, noting that Indian Single Malts taste quite different from Scotch or Irish whiskey. The fruit flavors seemed regional, possibly from native fruits, though I questioned if this was my perception influenced by its origin. I served this after opening on Christmas Eve to family and friends who visited. I also poured some during the Eagles game because the bottle was nearly empty, and I wanted to finish it off, especially since my dad hadn't tried it yet. Nose: Compared to the Talisker Tidal Churn I had just tasted, this was much darker but lacked an age statement. The nose had a faint hint of peat, but was predominantly fruity, almost candied and creamy, reminiscent of Skittles with bright citrus notes of lime and mango, along with some spice. If not for stereotypes, the spice might have been turmeric. It's a wonderful nose, more complex and vibrant than the Tidal Churn, outperforming its 92 proof. There was also a hint of banana, but it was more like Runts candy than the banana notes found in Jack Daniel's or Old Forester, mixed with spice and candied aromas. Palate: The mouthfeel was more delicate than the Tidal Churn, reflecting its lower proof. Peat and spice combined upon entry before the fruit flavors returned, though they were less candied here, mainly mango and banana, with the lime from the nose almost gone. It was quite good, even following the Talisker, but I wondered how it would taste at cask strength. I've had the Paul John Barrel Proof, which was good, but I found this Christmas Edition to have more complex flavors, albeit less intense. Towards the end, a pleasant, creamy vanilla custard note emerged. Finish: The finish delivered a spice bomb of cardamom and cinnamon to the back of the tongue, lingering nicely. Overall, at the price I paid, I would have felt disappointed at full price. However, my perception of its value may have shifted. While $85 seems high, I believe it's worth around $70. Unfortunately, prices rarely decrease, and the current SRP is likely around $100. This might be the last time I have this whisky unless I find a cask strength version at a similar price or it goes on clearance again. Given that the store only offers Paul John Nirvana otherwise, my choice seems limited. Barrell New Year Bourbon 2024 I was eager to try this one again. I opened it on New Year's Eve, but drinking a 113 proof bourbon all night made it difficult to stay awake until midnight, so I switched to Paul John Christmas. I bought this bourbon in New Jersey during my family's beach vacation, intending to open it on NYE. We watched James Bond films—From Russia With Love and Goldfinger—before the ball drop and had a great time. Vodka or gin might have been more fitting, but I prefer whiskey. I've enjoyed most Barrell releases I've tried, but none have truly captivated me yet. Did this one change that? I mentioned earlier that I generally don't dilute whiskey, but with Barrell, I have used an ice cube in Seagrass and Vantage to make them more palatable, especially for anything over 120 proof. Nose: After tasting two other whiskies, my notes become less detailed, which might reflect the whisky itself. The Barrell NY 2024 offered intense waves of peach, caramel, and vanilla cream. The game was only four days after I first opened it. It's possible that some initial heat had dissipated with about a fifth of the bottle consumed and exposure to air, making it less harsh than on NYE. Alternatively, tasting it third in the lineup, after the Talisker and Paul John, might have made me more tolerant of its heat, a known effect. On NYE, it was the first whisky tasted, which could also influence perception. Palate: Similar to the nose, the palate features strong caramel and vanilla, with the peach flavor still present but less intense than on the nose. There's also a baked bread note that contributes to a peach cobbler impression. I thought it would pair excellently with desserts like cakes or pies. Finish: This is one of those rare whiskies where fruit flavors dominate the finish, overshadowing spice or alcohol. The peach cobbler notes persist and linger for a long time. Overall, the Barrell New Years 2024 Bourbon might be my favorite Barrell product so far. For this tasting, the Paul John 2019 Christmas Edition had the best nose, the Barrell New Years 2024 Bourbon had the best palate and finish, and the Talisker seemed to be the weakest, ranking last for me in this experience.

To mark the holiday season, I've been saving this sample from a friend for some time and am eager to open it now with the winter weather and finally experience the Paul John distillery. The nose begins with an effervescent sherry note alongside dark chocolate and figs, followed by Fuji apples and orange peel, before a gentle smoke and minerality that recedes into spices like anise, pine needles, and mild oak with a moderate ethanol sting. The taste presents a medium texture, starting with subtle sherry sulfur, then dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and figs, followed by tart apples and grapefruit pith before a moderate tannic spice with faint smoke that gradually fades to spices of anise, pine needles, and ashy oak with a moderate ethanol sting. The finish is of medium duration, featuring orange peel, green apple, moderate sulfur, anise, pine, and ashy oak. The nose initially offers a pleasant blend of those sherry-derived dark chocolate and figs, combined with citrus fruits, light smoke, and spices that evoke a wintery feeling and the idea of Santa arriving with treats. Unfortunately, Santa's visit was a deception, as Krampus was lurking behind him with his birch rod, ready to ambush the palate with sulfur, sour citrus, tannic spice, and ashy oak, thankfully departing with this finish of pithy sour fruit, sulfur, mild spice, and ashy oak. Observing other feedback, this might be one of those divisive drams that elicit strong love or hate. The only other possibility is that this is a skillfully crafted product designed to reward the good and punish the bad. Alas, I suppose I fall into the latter category on this one.

Aroma: Fresh apples, a hint of dried cranberries, honey, and faint cinnamon & clove spices. Taste: Black peppercorn & charcoal filtered unsweetened apple juice, very light smoke presence, light metallic/charcoal, hint of dried red berries. Finish: Light fruity apple, light charcoal/metallic lingers, very light red berry. Score: 64/100 Final Thoughts: The aroma started out somewhat promising and was pleasant, if a bit light. It tastes nice initially, but then nothing really changes, leaving you with a sweet, generic filtered apple juice flavor with a strange metallic/charcoal undertone. There might be a trace of peated whisky, or perhaps the previous peated run wasn't rinsed out properly. The finish is fairly short, which is good given the odd metallic/charcoal sensation. Would I drink it if offered? - No Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - Price is not considered in any reviews.

Among the initial individuals in the United States to sample this from a Drammers Club event with a friend, tasted immediately after the 2018 bottling. This expression surpasses the 2018 version with notes of Chocolate, Dates, Sultanas, Vanilla, Prunes, Espresso, Peat, Figs, Guava, Citrus, Pineapple, Toffee, and Banana. It was aged for 5 years in bourbon casks, followed by a 2-year finish in PX casks. Notably, unlike the sherry-seasoned casks commonly found in the spirits industry, Paul John utilizes casks that previously held sherry for 10-15 years.

Yes, this is good. The aroma is rich and fruity with deep sweet malty notes and a hint of spice; the palate has a strong, sweet dankness with subtle earthy undertones, smoke, and spice; the finish preserves all the sweet notes with only a whisper of the smoke or earthy character.

Oloroso sherry, stone fruit, and a touch of nutmeg on the nose; oak, baking spice, some rye spice, vanilla; a pleasant medium texture; rather intense; concludes with baked apple and oak; a decent imitation of a highland scotch, but unremarkable.