Indulgent, opulent, silky and rich, this is teenaged Irish whiskey nearing perfection. In direct comparison to its younger sibling (Green Spot), the twelve-year-old expression has more wood influence, more spices, more "dark" aromatics, and more depth and intensity. Conversely, it boasts less "bright", youthful fruitiness. The signature tropical fruit notes have become waxier, oilier, and gained surprising levels of mellow maturity. Actually, if I were to have this blind, I'd deem this way older than its stated twelve years of age - it noses more like an at least sixteen-year-old malt. Lots of umami and soft rancio notes, surely imparted by the fortified wine casks.
All in all, this is an obvious - and delightful - upgrade of Midleton's seven-to-eight-year-old modern classic, the Green Spot, and is well worth the premium it requires to purchase a bottle, IF (and that's a big "if") you cherish dark, woody, cask-heavy flavors over spirit-driven florals and fruitiness. I for one, definitely prefer this older version. The thick, lush fruitiness next to this waxy, oily, syrupy side makes for a winning combination. It may seem slightly expensive for twelve years, but given what it has to offer, it's a bargain at any price below 60 €.
