The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth

Score: 10/23 My knowledge of this one is quite limited. I have a vague recollection of wanting to sample it and purchasing a mini when I saw one. Nose: Surprisingly appealing! I detect a sweet nectar quality with some rich heather notes. There's a bit of raw alcohol that resembles chicken breast, but it's not overly offensive. In fact, the meaty character is intensifying. I'm less enthusiastic about it now, but it's still not bad. A hint of apricot is present. Alas, it's become quite meaty now. The alcohol presence is minimal, and I'm now detecting a scent more akin to cooked chicken breast, complete with black and rainbow pepper. So, it's essentially nectar, heather, and chicken breast. A little unusual, but not actually unpleasant. Still, it lacks significant interest or enjoyment. Palate: Surprisingly substantial mouthfeel and flavor. Nectar (malt sweetness) and spices are layered over a reasonably rich foundation of malt and heather. After a few sips, the typical Irish oily alcohol emerges. I'd prefer it absent, but I anticipated it given its Irish origin. Faint apricot and orange are present, but it's predominantly malty sweetness. Grain evolves into a somewhat dry grass with subtle lemon, accompanying the alcohol. Perhaps there's some vanilla here? The complexity is fairly solid, though certainly not exceptional. The spice lacks a specific flavor beyond a hint of white pepper and is unfortunately largely just alcohol burn and harshness. It's a pity because I would be quite positive about this whiskey if it weren't for that harshness. There's also a slight meatiness accompanying the alcohol. It's akin to slightly undercooked chicken breast. Not the worst flaw, but it's clearly present. Finish: Malty richness with a touch of heather. Not overly sweet, though. The more bitter aspect of the alcohol is noticeable. - Conclusion - It's a genuine shame that there is so much alcohol harshness present, as this is otherwise a rather enjoyable, easy-drinking dram. That said, even without the harshness, it doesn't compare to the nectary, decadent richness of Knappogue Castle 12 (rated 15/23), so it wouldn't score higher than a 13. Compass Box Artist's Blend (rated 13/23) has a slight burn similar to this and is not quite as sweet, with a mellower bitter undertone. It also feels fuller and has much more vanilla. Flavor-wise, I believe the choice between them comes down to personal preference. However, the harshness here is a significant issue. I might actually prefer this in terms of flavor. Dudognon Reserve (rated 10/23) has a more syrupy sweetness and definitely exhibits more alcohol. The Dudognon, however, is not harsh. This is the winner in terms of flavor, though not by a wide margin. So the question becomes how much does the harshness reduce the score? At least 2 points, I'm certain, so this cannot be higher than an 11. Is it a full 4 points? Unlikely. It's likely 2-3 points in this instance, I estimate. I'm assuming this is one of those entry-level Irish whiskeys. If so, it's a commendable choice. The flavor could benefit from refinement, and it's certainly too harsh, but it is drinkable. I would still prefer not to consume it, though. I'm considering a score of 9 to 11 for this. Reflecting further, I find the Compass Box to be clearly superior to the Dudognon when tasted side-by-side, whereas I am less confident that this tastes better. Considering this, I believe this might be closer to a 12 based on taste alone. With this realization, I think an 11 is no longer a possibility. That said, a 9 does seem overly critical. I'm assigning this a 10. For a moment, I thought I might be penalizing this too severely for its harshness and it could potentially be an 11, but then I took my final sip, and that harshness is still very present, despite the impact it and the side-by-side comparisons have already had on my palate. There's no way this is an 11, unfortunately. Calling it "Triple Smooth" is quite a stretch. For $17, however, it's arguably not too bad.

Nose: Green apple, peach, orange zest, light caramel, grass, cinnamon, slight ethanol burn. Palate: Cereal grain, green apple, lemon zest, corn sweetness, cinnamon, honey, grass, mild to moderate alcohol bite, with a quick finish of bright ethanol, green apple, and citrus zest. Despite the name ‘Triple Smooth’ not giving me high hopes, I decided to give it a shot. In short, my initial judgment was correct. This isn't a great product, which is typical for Total Wine brands. It's smooth due to the low alcohol burn, but I actually find it quite astringent. The primary scents on the nose are sour apple, citrus zest, and a hint of peach, which are its only good points. The palate is worse, showing more sour graininess, along with some dull corn sweetness, similar to a cheap Canadian whisky. Don't get this. It costs about the same as Tullamore, Bushmills, and Jameson, but it's not as good as any of them, and that's a low standard. Total Wine has disappointed me again, but likely not for the last time.

The initial aroma reminds me of Writer’s Tears and Green Spot. It's quite mild, with just a slight alcohol sting, and takes considerable time to develop. It exhibits floral notes like wild clover, subtle honeysuckle, and faint orange blossom. There's also vanilla, a touch of honey on graham cracker, a hint of lemongrass oil, and a suggestion of candied orange peel and sherry, but all are quite understated. On the palate, vanilla is the first taste, followed swiftly by honey, cinnamon graham cracker, and then sharp citrus in the form of bitter orange peel. The body is rather thin, and at 40% ABV, there's little room to add water. The legs develop slowly but are uniformly attractive despite their thinness. The finish is brief and has a bittersweet quality. Oats, a stale cinnamon stick, sour grape must, and finally oak appear, along with nuts and a hint of dark chocolate. An interesting, albeit unusual, blend that shows promise. Aroma: 7 Taste: 7 Body: 4 Finish: 5

Nose: Exhibits a touch of the Hi-C note found in the Busker SPS—actually, it likely contains some of the SPS—but it's more refined and balanced here. Notes of peach, pear, vanilla, and caramel are present. Cherry candy and/or cherry cough syrup are also detected. There's a bit too much ethanol overall, but it's not unreasonable for the price point. Palate: Initially big and fruity with orchard fruit notes and a distinct strawberry flavor. The fruit is quite sweet and tastes like candy. More malt follows, along with some caramel and toffee. A hint of vanilla is also present. Baking spice leads into the finish, which gradually intensifies through cinnamon to a chili pepper heat. Some sour fruit mixes in, but the finish is predominantly hot. I believe this is slightly superior to Busker Single Pot Still and a respectable entry-level Irish whiskey in general. It serves as a decent alternative to Jameson, for instance, but I wouldn't choose it over Powers Gold. It's quite easy to drink and affordable, but ultimately unremarkable.

Nose: It's youthful and light, but not unpleasant due to the casks used. It smells like a frosted vanilla shortbread cookie, sweet Sherry with orange and overripe apples. Palate: The texture is thin, but slightly richer and deeper than anticipated. It has robust barrel spices, stewed apples, and a hint of toffee. Finish: Brief, with a touch of Sherry and barrel spices. Overall: If you're uncertain about Irish whiskey, this is a good starting point. It's inexpensive yet good quality and easily pleases most people. I've seen this on sale at several retailers for $5 a bottle recently.

Anticipation for this one was high, but it's characteristic of an inexpensive Irish whiskey. The body is light, and the mouthfeel is unremarkable. The aroma is subtle yet offers decent malt hints. The taste is slightly sharp, and finding consistency in the flavor requires effort. The finish isn't pleasing, leaving a mild bitterness on the palate. I can see this working in cocktails needing an Irish whiskey, but it's not a great neat drink.