The Whistler Single Cask Series - P.X. I Love You

OHLQ selection Originating from Boann Distillery Barrel No. 230441 Age - 5 years, 9 months Stored in ex-bourbon barrels for 5 years Completed aging in ex-P.X. sherry hogshead for 9 months 56.17% alcohol by volume; 112.34 proof Original cost $79.99; Discounted cost $47.99 Opened 6 days Nose - Raisins, figs, plums, Honey Nut Cheerios, brown sugar, vibrant malt, light oak, and moderate ethanol. Palate - Fruitcake reminiscent of holidays, mixed berry cobbler, raisin assortment, caramel taffy, slight saltiness, honey roasted peanuts, and pipe tobacco. The finish is medium-long with sharp grain and malt, cocoa powder, diet sherry, peanut shells, and moderate ethanol. OHLQ selected a number of The Whistler cask strength finishes in early 2024, but only the P.X. and Oloroso sherry options appeal to me at the sale price. I've been enjoying Oloroso finishes lately, so I decided to try something different. For the discounted price, this is a wonderful and enjoyable Irish whiskey. You can discern its youth from the aroma to the finish, but that doesn't significantly diminish the experience. Curiously, it shares many characteristics with younger MGP high-rye cask strength bourbon. Sweet, grainy notes stem from both the youth of the Irish malt and the limited time spent finishing in P.X. I know it sounds peculiar, but for me, there's a high baseline with 4-6 year old MGP bourbon that appears remarkably similar to what The Whistler offers with these approximately 5-year cask strength finishes. So much so that I'll probably purchase the heavily reduced $42 Oloroso finish next.