Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year Single Malt

Tullamore 12 was good. Standard Tully is a dependable everyday sipper. Then there's this 14-year-old single malt aged in four casks. I'm interested. Nose: Vanilla, confectioners' sugar, and shortbread cookies. Apple, plum, cranberry, raisin, and clementine. A touch of lime zest. Cereal and caramel notes. Oak, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. All four cask influences are well-balanced. A pleasant aroma. Palate: Vanilla, honey, shortbread cookies, toffee, and malt. Apple, pear, apricot, lime, and white grape. Caramel and custard flavors. The Oloroso influence comes through with milk chocolate, vanilla frosting, and orange citrus notes. Floral and oak notes. The palate is dominated by bourbon oak with some Oloroso character. Good quality. Finish: Lime, plum, raisin, cranberry. Vanilla, shortbread cookies, malt, and toffee. Oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Caramel. Medium in length. The four cask influences are more balanced here than on the palate. A respectable length for 41.3% ABV. Solid. This is a well-rounded Irish whiskey. Nothing truly stands out as exceptional, but it is consistent and well-integrated. The blend of bourbon, port, Oloroso, and Madeira cask aging creates a solid whiskey profile. There's much to appreciate here. 3.75. Compared to scotch, $70 would be a fair price for a good 14-year-old bottle. So this offers good value. Another fine product from Tullamore. I believe their higher-end products often don't receive enough recognition; this is another achievement for them.

Concise and pleasant, much like many Irish whiskies. Nose: Classic Irish single malt character (caramel, apple, pear) with prominent sherry and wine cask influences. These elements harmonize beautifully, creating an exceptionally inviting aroma. However, as is common with Irish whiskies, it dissipates quickly, so don't linger. Taste: Echoing the nose, this presents a delightful fusion of traditional Irish notes and the cask finishes. It's enjoyable, with a commendable barrel selection, though the overall mouthfeel is quite light, as expected from a widely available Irish whiskey. It certainly doesn't feel like a 14-year-old spirit in richness. Finish: Sweet and dry. It's very thin and vanishes almost instantly. The oak presence is missing. What happened to the 14 years? Some younger spirits offer a more sustained finish. This whiskey appears to have been excessively diluted. Disappointing. Final thoughts: this exemplifies how triple distillation, chill filtration, and a low ABV can detract from Irish whiskey. The nose is excellent, but it falters with a weak palate and a nearly absent finish. The producers in Ireland should consider bottling their triple distilled spirits at a higher proof without chill filtration. Would this significantly increase costs? Unlikely. Would it improve the whiskey? Absolutely.

Ah, Tullamore Dew might not have been my first, but it was my go-to when I lived in Ireland, and it's one of the spirits that made me think, 'Hey, whiskey isn't too bad.' I didn't drink it neat back then; that came a decade later. I used to carry a hip flask to the pub, get a pint of water, and add a dram or two. Yeah, I know, cheap, but hey, I was in my mid-20s with very little money, that was my excuse. Plus, drinking that much water helped prevent hangovers... the quirks of youth. Anyway, I saw this and the 18-year-old samples and thought, ah, for nostalgia... not that I drank the aged statements. Mine was the standard stuff. I like this: brown sugar, green apples. Usually, I dislike the latter, but with the oily spiciness, it works. I had poured this dram before I realized the stir-fry had ginger and garlic... usually a combination I avoid, but the dram held its own and maybe even enhanced or perhaps lessened the components I might not typically enjoy... or maybe it's the psychology of nostalgia.

Still in Hartford. Visited Vaughan’s again. Tullamore Dew is on the shelf. I requested a neat pour of the Single Malt 14 for a nightcap. The aroma is full of fruit and sugar. Apricots and bananas in a brown sugar reduction. The usual Irish note of straw. Hints of tropical coconut and honey. Thin body with a gentle sweetness. The palate has demerara sugar and honey, with some fruitiness/tartness of Granny Smith apples towards the end. Lacks significant complexity or depth, but works well within its own framework. A slight white pepper spice on the finish with cinnamon apple crumb pie sweetness that quickly shifts to an oaky spiciness, though very mild. Inoffensive, straightforward, and unexciting yet enjoyable for its sweet simplicity. [84/100][Tasted: 4/12/18]

A light sniff reveals a wonderful mix of sugary and dry fruits. Citrus, toffee, and spices are present alongside. You can also detect that the sherry notes are a bit deeper, approaching Dalmore 12's sherry notes but not quite reaching them. As the golden liquid flows into your mouth, you immediately notice lignins and tannins, most likely from American Oak, beginning to explode on your palate. Simultaneously, you can taste a slight sourness from the other wine cask, and it's not overwhelming, which makes it intriguing to me. A medium to long finish with some spices, lignins, and tannins. Similar to dry black tea with bitterness and just a tiny bit of honey. Overall, a good whiskey with sufficient complexity. Personally, though, I just wish the finish was better.

The finest Tullamore I have experienced, and considering the price, it ought to be. The nose offers honey and a touch of floral. The taste is all jam and biscuits, with that same honey present. It finishes with the characteristic pot still funk found in superior Irish whiskies. Now, the issue: Tullamore 14 is clearly superior to Tullamore 12. A single malt versus a blend, and an additional two years make a difference. However, Tully 12 is frequently on sale for $42, making it a matter of value. This is not a criticism of the 14 so much as the 12 truly providing excellent quality for its cost. I would certainly purchase this again, but unlike the 12, I couldn't imagine it being my regular choice.