Irish whiskey as it’s supposed to be. Has me reeeeeally curious to try the cask strength version.

Nose: Huge Bourbon influence: marzipan, coconut, oranges, banana and kiwi. I’m even tempted to say: starfruit. Sweet and creamy, with a slightly spicy background of cloves and, perhaps, cinnamon. Only after wading through a regular ocean of Bourbon aromas does a shy hint of nutty, rich and leathery Oloroso maturation announce itself (it‘s late to the party, but fashionably late). The initial Bourbon-Fest may be too much for some, but there‘s no denying that hugely active casks of considerable quality were used here. Some scotches should take a page out of Redbreast‘s book, that‘s for sure.

Taste: Creamy, soft, full, fruity, then a nice kick of prickly, oaky tanninicity (if that‘s a word). Not too thin or watery; good body for 40%. Sweet almond paste and maraschino cherries. Elegantly dry at the end. Coffee and cocoa in the finish. Less of a journey, taste-wise, than Green Spot, but still quality stuff. Perhaps just a tiny bit consensual, middle-of-the-road in the taste department. Also, the sherry influence is decidedly modern in nature, i.e., somewhat saccharine and syrupy.

Finish: After the coffee and cocoa notes subside, some fruit lingers, as do the Bourbon aromas (vanilla, coconut, creamy banana). Nice balance of dusty oak bitterness and soft fruity sweetness. Less dusty than the Green Spot though, which I’m tasting in comparison. Respectable length for the minimum strength. Sadly, a "neutral", alcoholic echo also reverberates.