The Pogues Irish Whiskey

Remarkably better than their single malt! Aroma: Rich and full of potential, and also not as overtly unseasoned as their single malt. Roasted malted peanuts, seeds, and chocolate emerge first, followed by a very smooth transition to sweet, grainy notes. Hints of bakery fudge, vanilla, toffee, and fruit are present. This aroma is already superior to their single malt. Taste: Rich and full-bodied, as anticipated from a non-chill-filtered spirit. Certainly not as young as their single malt; this is likely at least 5 years old. The malty notes blend harmoniously with the grainy flavors. Absolutely better than their single malt. Finish: Medium length, warm, sweet, and grainy. Lingering notes of bakery fudge and toffee. The malt is less prominent here. Still, this is also a significantly better finish than their single malt. Overall assessment: I would unequivocally choose this over their single malt every time. Considering it's a 50/50 malt and grain blend, and clearly aged longer, I cannot find a single justification for their single malt release's existence.

June 2024 - Hops Bar - Nancy A light color, too light to be taken seriously. A chocolate aroma A chocolate taste, very clear and pure. Surprising! A coffee aftertaste on the second sip. The flavor is quite distinct A breakfast whisky. Lacks body, has sweet flavors. This whisky is very surprising. There are times of peculiarity when noblewomen extinguish affections, when dark clouds gather, when hope fades with a warning glimmer... Like a military campaign preparing against Russia. There are conflicts one is certain to lose. In these moments, whisky can warm the hearts of men. Alas, this whisky is far too surprising to serve this purpose. It seems to come from another galaxy, another time frame. I am unsure of my thoughts...

The Pogues, huh? As someone who's a good chunk Irish, Scottish, and Scots Irish, they really hit the spot for me. I recall blasting "The Sick Bed of Cuchullain" while dyeing my hair green for St. Paddy's back in college. And you can't get through March 17th without belting out "Streams of Whiskey." Still, this whiskey wouldn't make or break my favorite day. It's just... meh. The aroma is faint, offering melon, pear, and vanilla. The taste is a bit livelier, bringing that fruit and vanilla together with some woody spice, but it's pretty delicate – more fitting for The Cranberries than The Pogues. I'd sip it if offered, but I'm not buying a bottle.

Nose: Faint sweet notes of cream and honey. A hint of caramel. Barley scent comes through well too. Palate: Caramel and vanilla. Fruity with some subtle spices and honey. Still sweet but quite thin, a bit watery. Finish: Short. Somewhat sour and dry. Dried fruit lingers the most, mainly apricot and apple. Not particularly enjoyable. Overall Thoughts: A little disappointing. The liquor store I purchased it from did a good job of marketing it as they made it seem like I’d be amazed but I’m beginning to suspect they just wanted to move a slick black bottle and didn't actually taste it. The nose is the strongest part of this whiskey and I honestly would consider this a shooting whiskey and nothing more.

The branding is intense, the aroma is raw, the vibe is rebellious, and the spirit reminds me of John Denver. It's pleasant and very easy-drinking, though the packaging is somewhat misleading. A clear sweetness emerges, primarily notes of pears and honey standing out the most. It isn't overly complex or lingering, with not much sharpness to notice. Generally, I'm pleased I had the chance to taste it. After all, when you're by yourself driving and "Country Roads, Take Me Home" plays, who doesn't glance around briefly before cranking the volume?

I have certainly sampled superior whiskey. Still, for the expense, this is a pleasant dram of Irish. On the nose, I detected Caramel and Vanilla (Oak). On the palate, it was just a little spicier, yet still sweet. Quite smooth for the cost, I wasn't overwhelmed by an alcohol flavor. The finish isn't too intense but also stays somewhat sweet.