The Whistler P.X. I Love You

The question of what to do about football in August 2020, during the pandemic, arose. The league would play due to money, but my dad and I had our ritual. Watching football together every Sunday was how we bonded since I moved out, even coming back for laundry. Then, after getting my own place, I'd still visit on Sundays. I'd bring a bottle of spirits, and my father and I would share a drink while watching. Spirits and football were like peas and carrots for us. More importantly, it was when we'd open up. The sport and drinks allowed us to be more vulnerable, discussing our lives. Fellow enthusiasts might understand. Football wasn't just about the game; it was about connection. With the game still on despite quarantine, what could we do apart? FaceTime and virtual high-fives seemed insufficient. My wife suggested watching from the back deck. She proposed moving the TV outside, setting it on a table, and using an antenna for reception since it was on Fox. We could place chairs six feet apart and enjoy our drinks. So, starting in September 2020 after the NFL skipped pre-season, that's what we did. My wife and I would position the TV on the deck with the furniture spaced out for social distancing, and my dad and I would watch. This season, we're both vaccinated. My father even got his booster, but with my unvaccinated children and the still-mild weather in the northeast, we continue the tradition. I still bring the TV outside, and we gather even as it gets colder. I then asked my wife about a fire pit, and she agreed. We discussed options, and she picked a better one after research. Now, my father and I gather around a fire pit. On some late game nights, my wife brings out dinner, and also sends food home with my dad for my mother. I realize I haven't mentioned The Whistler PX I Love You yet, but this context is important. My wife's incredible support in suggesting and facilitating our outdoor viewing, feeding us, and sending food home for my mother is remarkable. Sometimes, she even joins us. While she's not a huge football fan, she enjoys spirits, especially Irish whiskey. I wanted to thank her with an Irish whiskey for enabling our father-son ritual to continue during the pandemic. I found The Whistler PX I Love You, finished in sherry casks, with packaging suggesting it's a gift for a loved one. Her boss had previously bought her Jameson Black Barrel, and she appreciated having her own bottle. So, I thought she should have something special for joining us by the fire pit. Is it special? It's good. She shared a glass with me over shoofly pie tonight, and I enjoyed it (the pie was also decent). However, I don't quite share the high praise from other reviewers; I expected a bit more. How can I describe it? Despite being Irish whiskey, it reminds me of a younger Highland Park 12 Year Viking Honor, something Scotch drinkers might relate to. The nose is dominated by sherry sweetness and smoke. The smoke is present but not heavily peaty, with a subtle band-aid aroma sometimes found in Islay, which is unusual for single malt Irish whiskey. I don't mind it, but it bothered my wife. She mentioned the band-aid note, and I agreed. She also compared it to Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020 (PX Sherry cask finished), but noted it was smoother and more robust, though I pointed out its higher proof and cost. The palate echoes the nose. Beneath the sweetness, there's Irish fruit and honey that emerges on the finish, which is moderately long. It's a good whiskey, but the comparison to Highland Park 12 is relevant because they share the same price point. My wife mentioned wanting Green Spot for Christmas, but I had already ordered this. The bottle conveyed my feelings of love and appreciation. I just wish the liquid matched the sentiment. Perhaps adding an ice cube or letting it breathe will improve it. I might still get her that Green Spot. While a gift's thought counts, a whiskey's flavor is paramount. This is good, but I hoped for better than good, given my intentions. Not great, just...better. Especially considering the cost.

Cooley Distillery, now under Beam Suntory ownership, functions similarly to MGP in the American whiskey world. While they produce their own labels like Kilbeggan, Tyrconnell, and Connemara, their distillate is used in about 40 other Irish whiskey brands. It forms the backbone for many new whiskey companies awaiting their own distilleries or aged stock. Teeling, Glendalough, and Fercullen all utilize Cooley's distillate. If you're drinking Knappogue Castle, you're likely tasting Cooley whiskey. The Whistler line from Boann also sources from this distillery in County Louth. Boann opened their own distillery in County Meath in 2017 and are aging their own spirits for future release after a minimum of five years. If the World Whiskey Awards are any indication, Boann's early productions are promising; they received the 2021 award for “World's Best New Make & Young Spirit.” For this NAS whiskey, Boann used non-chill filtered, uncolored Cooley stock aged in ex-bourbon barrels, then finished it for at least nine months in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. The initial aroma presents a delightful blend of raspberry, blackberry, fresh wood shavings, vanilla, a hint of rubber cement, and a trace of medicinal flavor. The sherry finish dominates the palate with a rich wave of forest fruit and fig chutney. It leaves a medium-length finish that is subtly drying, with a touch of spice. This is good. Very good. It's my first taste of Boann's offerings, and while this isn't their own spirit, their careful selection and additional maturation of Cooley stock have earned my trust. I'll be watching their future releases with interest.

This is my second bottle from this producer, an Irish whiskey aged in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks. It has an attractive name and bottle. An Irish single malt, triple distilled and matured in PX Sherry Casks. Bottled at 46% ABV. On the nose, I detect classic candied orange notes, similar to those found in other spirits. Beautiful. Impalpable sugar, coffee beans, sawdust, and more oranges are present. On the palate, the 46% ABV is noticeable as it feels very light and gentle. Citrusy. Like a crazy lollipop with sparkling sugar. An aftertaste that follows the same pattern. Oranges, sugar, candied fruits, and brown sugar. Overall, this isn't an incredibly complex spirit, but it is certainly delicious and easy to enjoy. The PX influence is evident in the candied fruits and abundant sugary notes. I truly enjoyed it as a sweet, everyday dram. My score is 88 out of 100.

The nose has a woody and possibly caramel scent (served neat). After the first sip, I detect vanilla. It's strong. It hits hard initially, then subsides (smoothly), followed by a slight warmth felt deep in the chest (neat, not on ice). It's not unpleasant or burning, just a little warmer than expected. The finish has notes of caramel, almost like a Werther's original (at least when served on ice).

Alcohol on the nose, it swirls. In the mouth it's dry, warming, deep, with brandy, dried fruit, and plum notes.

More bourbon notes than red wine, I'd prefer the opposite, but it's already an enjoyable experience.