Tyrconnell Single Malt

Rating: 9/23 Wow! Only two distillations? This shows unexpected potential. Nose: Hmm, this has a pleasant, (for lower-tier Irish whiskey) rich aroma with a good layer of malt over some oiliness and spices, plus a bit of vanilla giving way to slightly young wood and faint hay. It certainly has a similar character to Glen Grant 26 bourbon barrel aged, though less intense and refined. It doesn't smell fantastic, but having tried many poor Irish whiskies recently, it's a great relief to pour something and think "hmm, I'm eager to taste this". Palate: Sweet and spicy right away, with a nectar quality suggesting nice sweet honey that's been considerably diluted and mixed with some vanilla. There's some mellow wood and hay in the background, with a faint layer of rich maltiness permeating everything, and a young wood tartness underneath at times, adding hints of tropical notes (banana and a tiny bit of mango). I occasionally detect a slightly older, mustier wood flavor, but it's not significant and not very exciting. The spice and a not entirely thin mouthfeel give this a greater presence than it would otherwise possess, but the spice does seem like a partially successful attempt to mask considerable harshness. Still, if not for the harshness, this would be a completely drinkable - albeit somewhat dull - dram. None of the flavors are bad; most are slightly good and distinct. Finish: The malt lingers nicely, with that nectar flavor and wood spiciness. It remains hot and harsh, but less so than the palate. It's a solid finish. So, apart from the harshness, I'm quite impressed (at least compared to my expectations). I'd certainly keep this as an affordable (I assume it's affordable?) Irish whiskey for sipping. In both flavor and harshness, this significantly surpasses Pure Scot. The malt here is less muddled and fresher, with genuine spice and less harshness. I'm shocked to be tasting a whiskey that leads me to cite Pure Scot as a benchmark, but here we are. This is closer in quality to Sir Edward's 12, warranting a 9 or possibly a 10. Although their profiles differ, I believe their quality is quite similar. I slightly prefer Tyrconnell's profile as it's more traditional and clean, but Sir Edward's is less harsh. Given the harshness here, I'll settle on a 9. This might have a marginally better profile (might) as Sir Edward's has some alcohol on the finish, but Sir Edward's is far less harsh. The harshness here seems to emulate Aberlour 12, but Aberlour is spicier. Aberlour is a bit spicier but has less of that solvent effect and less oily funk. Honestly, they seem quite similar in quality, in the 9 to 12 range, but Aberlour 12 is superior. Aberlour 12, Sir Edward's 12, and Highland Queen Sauternes are all slightly better than this due to its harshness. What truly stands out here are the clean flavors, but compared to Glen Grant 26, there's no competition. Despite being 60% ABV, the Glen Grant is much smoother, richer, and more balanced. I didn't expect this to match the Glen Grant, but the difference is more striking than anticipated. So, I'm back to a 9 or 10. Considering the noticeable harshness compared to Glen Grant, I must choose a 9. I thought this was about equal to Tomintoul 10, but the harshness here is a significant issue, so Tomintoul is slightly better. Oof, $40 for this? I feared that might be the case, but it's still disappointing. This is nowhere near competing with Redbreast 12 - though not as far off as I expected. Honestly, this could be an 11 or 12. 13 would be a serious stretch, but I can see 9 to 12. 8 seems too low. I won't buy a bottle at $40, but this is a more substantial whiskey than I anticipated and I might consider it for $25-30.

I've recently reviewed several Scotches and Bourbons that were instrumental in moving me from bottom-shelf choices to the next level. Foundational spirits in my journey, you could say. I began to explore Irish whiskey around the same period, and this was one of the initial spirits that helped me enhance my Irish whiskey experience. It's been a very long time since I last had a bottle of this, and it's surprising that I haven't documented it here. Time to rectify that. Nose: Honey, vanilla, malt, cereal grain, toffee, and caramel. Macintosh apple, green grape, and apricot. Floral notes. Golden raisin. Orange peel. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, toffee, and honey. Macintosh apple, green grape, pear, and apricot. Milk chocolate and butterscotch. Floral notes. Sugar cookie. Golden raisin. Orange citrus. Almond, walnut, and cashew. White pepper and oak. Finish: Toasted almond and walnut. Green grape and golden raisin. Caramel, milk chocolate, toffee, and vanilla. Cocoa. Clove, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak. Moderate-to-short finish, leaning towards the former. This is the Arran 10 year equivalent for Irish whiskey. Easy to drink. Characterized by its floral and orchard fruit notes. Crisp, delightful flavor. It's not the most powerful whiskey available, but it definitely warrants a purchase. Speaking of which, this cost me a mere $35. Absolutely worth the price of admission, especially in today's market with such significant inflation. It hasn't increased in price at all since I initially bought it 8-9 years ago. And if that's not compelling enough, they boosted the ABV by 3% since then. If you're even a little curious about this one based on my description, go for it. The risk-reward ratio makes this a clear choice. 3.5, bumped to 4 for value for money.

Nose: Initially sharp and clean, but also thin and weak, like a cheap blended scotch. Malt, green apple, and lemon zest appear, with grassy spice notes in the background. The empty glass smells surprisingly of honey, though I can't detect it on the nose after several sips. Palate: Fruity and spicy upon entry, with cereal flavors like white bread toast. Porridge and malt become dominant, with a persistent ginger spice and a touch of aniseed throughout. The consistency is somewhat thin. Finish: Brief. Malt flavors start sweet and spicy, then turn dry and almost bitter in the aftertaste. A dull Irish single malt that doesn't hold up against much cheaper scotch blends. It lacks enough character to be praiseworthy; not bad, but far better options exist. It's not satisfying for sipping and gets lost as a mixer. It's best served straight with a couple of ice cubes and a splash of soda. My main issue is the poor value. In Australia, it costs only slightly less than Ardbeg 10. My go-to cheap blended scotch lately is Ballantine's 12 year old, which is nearly half the price but easily outperforms this weak contender. It's okay, with no real off-flavors, but I can't really suggest it. The official score here is quite generous. "Adequate": 73/100 (2.25 stars)

I'm tasting this from a sample, but Total Wine in Albuquerque sells it for $39.99 a bottle. This is only my second Irish whiskey, and it's significantly better than the other one I tried (the Sexton). The nose was wonderfully complex, but the taste and finish were considerably less so. This is a good whiskey, though, and at a lower price point, I would readily purchase it. The mash bill consists of 100% malted barley. There's no age statement, but based on the light color, I would estimate it didn't spend a great deal of time in used barrels. The color resembles 14-karat gold (I compared it to my wedding ring when I had that thought, and they matched). The legs are thin and short, appearing inconsistently around the glass. This is an 86 proof whiskey (though they spell it with an E in Ireland). NOSE: I was surprised by saltwater appearing first. Next were notes of honey, meadow grass, butterscotch, and an unidentified sweet element. That unknown note strongly resembled something I can't pinpoint in Balcones Pot Still Bourbon's nose - which is odd, given the very different mash bills. When I fully inhaled from the glass, I detected an additional note of honey lemon. TASTE: It starts off sour, though not unpleasantly so. There was a definite, but not extreme, alcohol burn, with a hint of honey. Finally, a faint woody characteristic emerged - perhaps oak, though it was so subtle I couldn't be certain. FINISH: Short, with oak transitioning to spicy oak, concluding with spice.

A very pale honey color; appears oily inside the glass when swirled. Initial nose has sulfuric notes: vegetal, like broccoli water. It then evolves into something resembling freshly made applesauce with the skins still on. Buttery cream and vanilla. Just a hint of lemon drop at the end. The taste is a blend of that buttery cream and vanilla frosting, quickly followed by bitter, citric lemon. The lemon, along with the barrel tannins, creates a significant pucker. A surprising amount of heat persists to the end, despite being only 86-proof. A lot of clove when chewed. Adding an ice cube causes the vanilla to intensify and softens all the harsher elements. The citric bite remains, but the tannins become less aggressive. Recommended. The finish is metallic, like touching your tongue to a metal flagpole. (It's that time of year.) A good amount of dark chocolate and coffee grounds follow. There is a mild barrel char that gives a plum/date character. Sawdust appears at the very end. I find the Tyrconnell to be slightly overpriced at $40, but it is very solid and quite pleasant.

Nose: Hay, recently cut grass, and cereal notes. It possesses the aroma I consider characteristic of Irish whiskey. A subtle hint of vanilla and honey at the end provides a very mild sweetness. A touch of citrus emerges with more exploration. Palate: Rich and full, with an oily sweetness. It's almost as if the sweetness from the end of the nose carries directly to the beginning of the palate. Once again, the slightly bitter cereal notes I associate with this whiskey style transition into the finish. Finish: Medium to long, with lingering bitter char flavors on the sides of the tongue. Soft palate richness and warmth remain equally long, creating a nice, even balance. Overall, a fine Irish whiskey that doesn't get much attention. The typical Irish maltiness or graininess is quite prominent here, so if you prefer that to be more subdued, this might not be for you! I would appreciate more time to compare this directly with other Irish whiskies to gain a solid understanding.