Tullamore D.E.W. 10 Year Single Malt

The Tullamore Dew 14 I recently assessed appears intended to succeed this expression. Both are single malts matured in Olorosso sherry, bourbon, port, and madeira casks. This one has a slightly lower alcohol content at 40% and is obviously 4 years younger. Let's determine if those enhancements were sufficient to justify discontinuing this one. Nose: Shortbread/sugar cookie, vanilla frosting, and caramel. Pencil shavings. Apple, pear, apricot, and orange. Plum. Perfume and floral notes. A bit of mango salsa. Oak. No ethanol burn. A solid aroma. Palate: Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin upon initial taste. Caramel, shortbread cookie, toffee, and vanilla. Cranberry, blackberry, and plum. This reflects the port influence. Some lime citrus. Just a touch of heat and spice in the form of black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Oaky and woody. Excellent composition. Finish: The length is between short and medium--which is expected at 40% ABV. Apple, pear, apricot, and banana, followed by cocoa, oak, and some light baking spices. It results in a decent finish. This is a very good whiskey. It certainly would have benefited from an increase in ABV. The four casks interact well here. Similar to the 14-year, the bourbon barrel impact is evident. The port cask is more dominant than the Olorosso, which was favored in the 14-year. Overall, they are very similar, and my assessment for each is identical. What does this imply? Perhaps the whiskey itself is simply overwhelmed by the cask variations present. That would be understandable. Maybe the cask selection has declined at some point between the transition from this whiskey to the 14-year. I suspect the former. I won't overanalyze that. The reality is that both are solid whiskeys. If you appreciate Tully or Irish whiskey in general--and you're lucky enough to find one of these--purchase it immediately. It's well worth the $55. Personally, I wouldn't mind Tullamore Dew bringing back this release alongside the 14, perhaps increasing the former's ABV to 46%. As it stands, this one is respectable.

Thick and floral on both the aroma and the palate. Vegetal notes, reminiscent of fresh plant cuttings in new topsoil, appear early in the sip but are quickly replaced by a sweet surge of honey and vanilla before the cereal grains emerge. The finish is short and quite astringent, drying the mouth before fading cleanly. It's not Green Spot, but it's worth $35 to try.

A respectable pour, though it doesn't measure up to the 12 Special Reserve. The aroma strongly brings to mind apple picking season, like wandering through an orchard searching for the ideal tree. The rest of the experience is light and disappointingly brief, with a finish that almost hints at bananas. It's smooth and subtle.

If Isaac Newton were a drinker, he would have adored this. Imagine having orange marmalade toast in a clean robe next to your favorite tree. It's a blend of earthy notes and dried apricot, plus some pineapple. The aroma is certainly intriguing and superior to the disappointing, tangy taste.

My experience with Irish Whiskey is limited, but I enjoyed this one. Quite smooth and sweet. Not as intricate as Scotch, but without the peat either. I could see myself choosing this when I prefer a less complex flavor than Scotch.

The palate is exceptional and truly distinguishes this whiskey. A wide array of tropical fruits is strongly present on the palate, but it's not sweet. Tangy and wonderful.