Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask Limited Edition

This bottle, the second oldest in my collection, was purchased on March 6, 2020. I recall this date because I intended to keep it in my desk at work for emergencies, not for daily drinking. At the time, the president was engaging in aggressive rhetoric with North Korea, and my imagination ran wild with scenarios of missiles flying, leading me to want a whiskey on hand to cope with fear. Many would question choosing Tullamore Cider Cask over a peated Islay like Lagavulin 16 or Laphroaig 10. My reasoning then was different: with significant childcare costs and saving for a kitchen renovation, splurging on expensive bottles wasn't feasible. This 80-proof, cider-finished Irish whiskey was a clearance find at $14.99, intended as a 'break glass' option for dire situations where taste would be secondary to anesthesia. The thought of nuclear war, though far-fetched, prompted this 'emergency' purchase, even if I knew North Korea's reach was limited. I stored it in my desk drawer, wrapped up, and left work that Friday, unaware I wouldn't return for 13 months. My work-from-home schedule to save on childcare shifted to full-time remote work due to the pandemic's rapid spread. The initial few weeks extended indefinitely, and by year's end, remote work became the norm, with our office space significantly reduced. In May 2021, while clearing out my workspace, I finally retrieved the clearance bottle of Tullamore Cider Cask, originally meant for a different kind of apocalypse. By then, my youngest was out of daycare, the kitchen remodel was complete, and my finances had improved, allowing me to purchase better whiskeys. The Tully Cider Cask sat on my shelf until this October, coinciding with my horror movie marathons, pumpkin spice coffee, and candle. I decided it was time. I mixed my wife a drink with it (1.5 parts Tully, 1 part Aperol, dash of Orange Bitters) and poured myself a dram for review. Now, let's discuss its aroma, taste, and finish. This whisky isn't exceptionally complex. The nose offers hints of alcoholic apple cider, vanilla, and perhaps a touch of maple syrup. The standard Tullamore tastes of apples and oats to me, and this version is similar, with sweeter, more pronounced apple notes, reminiscent of baked or caramel apples. It's quite light at 80 proof; in a true emergency, I'd have to drink it quickly to achieve numbness. Sharing it probably wouldn't be an issue. The finish is brief, which is expected given the base spirit likely shares the short finish of standard Tullamore. Despite its simplicity, I can't fault it. It delivers on its promise, was priced appropriately, and any slight astringency doesn't detract significantly. It's a pleasant autumn sipper that won't astound you but is certainly enjoyable. It's ideal for spiking apple cider, or even better, used in the Aperol cocktail I made, which seems its best application. You might wonder about the oldest bottle in my collection. That would be Glenfiddich Fire and Cane, also a clearance purchase ($25) from summer 2019, before major global events unfolded. I'll review that one eventually, but sometimes, the longer a bottle sits unopened, the harder it is to open. An occasion is usually needed. For the Tully Cider, the occasion is my favorite season, my favorite month, and the fact that this October includes a Friday the 13th.

This is one I truly hoped I would enjoy, and while it's not terrible, it leaves much to be desired. There's a noticeable rubbing alcohol scent on the nose that's a bit unappealing. I was anticipating more influence from the cider cask. On the palate, it has the typical blended whiskey flavor with a hint of cider and, to my taste, a touch more dryness. I do detect a pleasant crisp cider note in the finish, but it's very brief at best. The rubbing alcohol aroma does dissipate after some time in the glass, so I'm curious about how the bottle will change with a bit of air. I'm not upset about acquiring this bottle, but it's not one I'll repurchase.

I'll be direct - this is exceptionally good. Tullamore has been releasing some exciting cask finishes; their most recent, the rum cask finish, is quite enjoyable...but not on this level. The combination of the base whiskey’s smooth, honeyed, fruity, and lightly spicy character with the slightly tart, round cider works perfectly. I hardly even noticed that the ABV is only 40%; there’s a satisfying richness present, with hardly any spirit bite. For $40/liter, this is a great find and probably the best whiskey I’ve had from Tullamore.

Thanks to a friend for providing a generous pour, I got to try another blended whiskey. So far, I’ve had three: loved their 14 year old, wasn’t fond of their Rum finish, and this one sits nicely in-between. The aroma is faint, but the palate is where all the excitement happens. The cider adds a nice crispness to the underlying sweet notes; a subtle hint of autumn...too bad I’m having this in the warm, rainy weather. An interesting trial. Thanks to my friend!

A bit strong. but add about a thimble full of water let it sit for around 4 mins and then is sweet heaven. I love Tullamore so I'm biased. nice sweet almost cinnamon quality without it being cinnamon. I enjoy it. and in the end it's all about individual Tate's and satisfaction. don't let someone tell you what drink try for yourself you'll be surprised what you like.

Red apples are present in both the aroma and flavor. It has a light taste and is fragrant. The fruitiness seems a little artificial, though. Some bitterness from the grain. No, it doesn't really come together well for me. It's just okay. I wouldn't purchase it again, but it was somewhat enjoyable to try. I prefer the original by a small but definite margin.