SV;

Cooley 23 yo 1992/2015 (55%, Cadenhead, Irish) Five stars A brand new Cooley by Cadenhead. Please note that I’ve used the picture of an earlier (very good – WF 90) bottling. Probably a barrel as well. Colour: pale gold. Nose: well, how many times have I already told that story about a friend who was pouring young peated Cooley to punters on the parking place of a famous Islay distillery starting with an A, around twelve years ago, and managed to let everyone believe it was young whiskey from that very Islay distillery? Indeed, you could think this is a slightly lighter and marginally fruitier A***. Especially love this smoky earthiness, these whiffs of lit cigars, the touches of garam masala and the horse saddle notes. With water: more fruits and more rooty notes. A little more barley as well. Mouth (neat): one of the fruitiest ueberpeaters I’ve tried. Shouldn’t work but it does. Smoky pineapples (not hand-grenades) and peppery litchis, then rather various oranges, especially bitter ones. And blood oranges. Really an unusual style, and this baby still roars like a tiger after 23 years. With water: perfect. Peat and fruits work in tandem, almost like… let’s see, say John Coltrane and Duke Ellington? (S., you’re afraid of nothing.) Finish: long, and rather more on fruits rather than peat this time. Strawberry yoghurt. A rather exceptional signature, as fresh as a baby’s… err, mouth. Comments: I absolutely love this style. Balance is deliciously perfect – what a tango! SGP:556 - 91 points.

Pretty closed, with some unidentified fruits. There is peat, moderately and a lot of malt. The vanilla, intense, emerges little by little. Adding water will not change much. I was waiting for a fruit bomb, I'm pretty disappointed. In the mouth, it's much more interesting! Very soft, fluid and supple as expected from an irish, alcohol is perfectly integrated. The addition of water makes it brighter and more spicy, making you forget that it is still 23 years old! The touch of mouth is really nice! In the end, FINALLY! Exotic fruits, here they are! Who survive, endure in the long final!

Enthusiasm 3/5

https://whiskeylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/01/25/twe-show-2019-international-part-1-2/

This morning’s in-queue offerings begin with a Cooley from the Cavalier.

C: In a snapshot: more peated than expected. Lovely mouthfeel, lovely whiskey. [Provisionally scores 88]

On the nose, dry grass, caramel dripping butter, vanilla, a little lemon and light smoke, subtle!
2nd:
malt, a little soggy wood, intense vanilla, a little cream, back grassy and a little light smoke.

Cadenhead's notes:

Irish Whiskey (Peated) from Cooley Distillery, Eire 1992 23y/o 55%

Nose: Clotted cream, custard creams, vanilla custard and very soft sweet smokiness.
Taste: More smoke than the nose suggests; creamy with raspberry jam, strawberry yoghurt and salted butter.
Finish: Initially very creamy then a dry ashy smokiness builds along with gooseberries and olive oil.