Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix. This was a limited release bottled at cask strength, made to celebrate the town's restoration after a 1785 hot air balloon incident. The town was rebuilt, an achievement honored by the annual Tullamore Phoenix Festival and this bottling. Before I review, I must say: the town of Tullamore rose from the ashes, but this whiskey did not. Once it's gone, it's gone, so if you find one, I strongly advise you to grab it. Nose: Right after pouring, it's all cinnamon and other baking spices, as expected from a 55% ABV spirit. With time, notes of nuts, red berries, apple, shortbread, and brown sugar caramel emerge. It's like warm apple pie. The cinnamon and spices are still there, but they blend well with the other scents after about 15 minutes. Very pleasant. Palate: Letting it breathe is key again. Very malty. Heavy on the cinnamon, baking spice, and oak. Once I adjust to the intensity, I detect graham cracker, shortbread, toffee, and vanilla, followed by raspberry, cranberry, and date. Towards the end of the palate, the spices return. Finish: A very long finish. All spice: cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak barrel spice. Some cashew and almond are present. A satisfying end to a stellar drink. It really packs a punch. When I first opened this bottle, I thought it might become my new favorite Irish whiskey. Surprisingly, it didn't seem to improve with age, unlike most cask strength spirits. That being said, it's still top-notch. It's only slightly inferior to Redbreast 12 CS and costs over $20 less. An exceptional value. This is a true standout in the Irish category. While not the most intricate, it's a strong and bold spirit that performs significantly above its price point. Calamity paves the way for greatness. Past triumphs can be reclaimed as long as the spirit remains the same. That's the message, I believe. Or perhaps it's a warning to think before launching an unmanned hot air balloon over a populated town. Regardless, I hope this limited edition Phoenix gets a second chance at life, just like Tullamore. It's damn good, and I hope it becomes part of the TD core range. Excellent stuff.

TULLAMORE D.E.W. Phoenix Blended Irish Whiskey 3/22/18 Triple Distilled 55% ABV No Age Statement A Mix of Grain, Single Malt, and Single Pot Still Whiskies Non-Chill-filtered Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks Left uncorked for an hour to open COLOR: Mahogany with many fast-running legs NOSE: After opening, a rich sweet grape aroma appears. The initial aroma is complex, with sweet grape first, then a candy-like sweetness as it sits, and a touch of spice underneath. PALATE: Sweet grape comes first, followed quickly by spice. It's a little hot but not too much. The sweet grape/candy flavor combines with the spice in a rich mouthfeel for nice complexity. FINISH: Spicy and drying, yet with a lingering sweetness; lightly makes your mouth water. With 1 drop of distilled water NOSE: Caramel sweetness with spice underneath. The grape note returns with swirling. PALATE: Spicy grape arrival, with spice emerging, but the sweet grape reappears with swirling to mix with the spice. It also has a drying quality. The rich mouthfeel remains. FINISH: Very Spicy and drying. With 2 drops of distilled water NOSE: A light caramel candy sweetness. PALATE: Very dry arrival with rising spice and light candy sweetness behind. A very peppery tingly mouthfeel – spice, not alcohol burn. A light candied sweetness emerges with swirling. FINISH: Light sweetness followed by pepper spice, ending in a mouthwatering sweetness. This is a very nice, complex glass of whiskey. The blend of grape or grape candy sweetness and spice remains whether neat or with water; they simply shift positions in my experience. It's interesting that the Single Pot Still spiciness was most prominent with 2 drops of water, but the sweetness and spice danced through my experience, with one taking the lead at times while the other complemented it, trading places as I enjoyed the performance. A very well-executed whiskey. Highly recommended! Michael P. Gaughan

This high proof version of Tullamore D.E.W. is named for the phoenix on Tullamore's town emblem, commemorating a 1785 incident where a hot air balloon mishap sparked a devastating fire that nearly destroyed the entire town. It's crafted by combining the most significant Irish whiskey styles: golden grain, malt, and pure pot still. Bottled at 55% ABV, presenting a golden hue. On the nose, it offers raw rice, dusty cardboard, triple sec liqueur, and cork. Not particularly striking. On the palate, it's a bit improved. Wheat, soap, red fruits, very herbal notes with corn undertones. The finish was unremarkable. Paper, raw rice, maize; it resembles licking an envelope. In summary, not a preferred whiskey for me; I've generally not been too fond of Tullamore D.E.W. Even as a Cask Strength offering, it lacks depth and enjoyment. It's not unpleasant, but it's neither delightful nor easy to drink. My rating for it is 73 out of 100.

This higher-proof Tullamore Dew is unremarkable, unfortunately. It feels like it needs a few more touches to be a quality whiskey. Bottled at 55% ABV, the story behind this dram is that the town of Tullamore faced a tragedy in 1785 when a hot-air balloon crashed, nearly destroying the entire settlement. This whiskey honors Tullamore and its ability to rise from the ashes, much like a phoenix. The nose is dominated by the grain whiskey's strong influence, with notes of hay, cider, grass, a perfume shop, and nutmeg. The palate resembles a typical Irish whiskey, but with an overload of chocolate flavors, including chocolate with salt, spicy chocolate, and hay. The finish is brief and bitter. Overall, I rate this dram a respectable 79 out of 100; it doesn't quite achieve memorable status.

As the old advertisements proclaimed, 'To each his own Dew.' This expression, inspired by the legendary tale of Tullamore's recovery from a devastating fire like a phoenix, offers a spirited take on the classic Tullamore profile. It does possess a certain warmth, with a hint of young spirit sharpness (expected for an NAS), but also features pleasant notes of cinnamon and clove, alongside vanilla cream, almond, dried fruit, and a wonderfully rich, buttery texture. Since it was part of my Advent calendar, I'm uncertain of the price, so I cannot comment on its value, but it's a delightful dram with enough character to be memorable.

After resisting the urge to buy this bottle on impulse at Whiskey Live New York 2016, I finally had the chance to try it. My goodness, I should have purchased it earlier! This is where Tullamore truly excels, as I find all the single malt versions to be lacking and not particularly impressive. It retains that pot still creaminess and sweet malt flavor, while also offering a subtly rich fruity taste and a satisfying kick. It's the best Tullamore Dew has to offer!