Extremely fruity on the nose. With time, vanilla, coconut, whip cream, and toffee develops.

On the palate, loads of vanilla, milk chocolate, tiramisu, coffee beans. The palate does not match the nose.

The finish is medium with lingering butterscotch and espresso acidity.

Indulgent, opulent, silky and rich, this is 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. Green Spot's signature tropical fruit notes have receded into the background and given way to surprising levels of mellow maturity. Actually, if I were to have this blind, I'd deem this older than its stated twelve years of age - it noses more like a fifteen to sixteen-year-old whiskey.
I can't for the life of me make out a specific Malaga influence here, apart perhaps from a winey note in the far distance, which I would've attributed to regular sherry casks if I hadn't known any different.
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. No flaws whatsoever. In one word: immaculate.

Absolutely stunning single pot still whiskey. Very complex

fruity sweetness, greasy feeling of malt!
Reminds me some M Couvreur for the sweet side, sherry (bottle open half), I have better returns than a sample!
Grapes, vanilla, a little sweet candy, sugar, nutmeg and a little grassy back, almonds and chocolate in return!
it's simple, though, monolithic, but intense!

The nose is overall fruity but it is slow to reveal itself and is much less appetizing than the Green Spot. The palate is very fruity, especially yellow fruits (exotic fruits?). The bourbon barrels are revealed in the mouth late but with authority! But where are the sherry casks? Perhaps in this note woody but too green for a 12 years and that leaves a hint of aggressiveness with each sip and prevents the roundness expected (too much?) To settle. An exceptionally long final centered on a fruit in particular that I can not yet identify. I stay a little on my hunger. I stay on the Green Spot even though both whiskeys have little in common - surprisingly enough.

Enthusiasm 3/5

Tasted on 05-27-2020.

Appearance: Lovely deep golden orange.

Nose: Banana comes out big, cinnamon, cookies, honey, vanilla, wood spice, melon.

Palate: Full and rich with honey and cinnamon, vanilla, cake, oily and smooth.

Finish: Long and lovely spice and honey.

With Water: Opens it up very nicely. Bitter with a drop added.

Overall: Fantastic depth and complexity and overall very delicious.