Glendalough 7 Year Mizunara Finish

I have enjoyed numerous Irish whiskeys in the past and I was excited to receive this as a gift and see what Mizunara did to the whiskey. It is a medium amber colour and appears to have an oily viscosity to it. Nose: I do not get the usual green apple and orchard fruits that I often get from Irish whiskeys. Instead, I get stewed prunes and. Christmas pudding cake with brandy. There is a winey port-like nose to it as well, which is surprising. Palate: Initially quite sweet and rich with dark fruits like plums. Cinnamon and baking spices immediately follow. Sherry then enters the picture and takes over the experience. Finish: Quite long but not overly pleasant. The sherry flavour seems to last forever along with a slight bitterness. Overall, I'm quite disappointed with this whiskey. I had hoped to experience a typical Irish whiskey with enhanced spicy oak notes. Unfortunately, to me it tastes like they poured this onto a Mizunara barrell that was filled with sherry still. This had so much potential but falls very short and I would not recommend this at the proce point.

Nose is warm stewed strawberries, honey, and dark melons, and oddly enough, it smells like it’s going to be oily and creamy. Palate is pears and honeysuckle and red berry preserves and mango chew candies and (drumroll) beautifully creamy, smooth and oily. Finish is more of the same, with the honey being the last thing to finally fade. There is zero burn (which is a change from when the bottle was first opened). If I could only use three words, it would be smooth, sweet, clean. I’ve noticed a lot of reviews mention a funky finish, and I thought the same when i first opened mine, but after some time and air (like 5 months at less than half-full) the funk is gone and what remains is very, very good. Now I’m off to see if i can find bottles of the 13 and 17.

Visual: Amber colour; quick, thin legs. Nosing: very oaky. Red wine vinegar hits the nose immediately. Caramel and Toffee; spices, namely cloves. Vague red berries. Hint of dark chocolate hits the back of the nose. Tasting: sweet; sort of thin body with short finish. Prickly and spicy with a bit of that classic Bourbon "burn". Lots of oak; white sparkling wine in the top palate. Reduced Nosing: More vanilla comes through; sweet marzipan. Reduced Tasting: With added water, burn lessens. Nothing much new comes through. I really loved this dram when I first opened the bottle. But after sitting down with it, I've come to realize that there isn't much complex about this dram. It's still good, but not as good as I first thought.

Upon our first sip, we immediately thought of cocoa and milk chocolate. This characteristic remains throughout the journey, while the malt itself acts as a canvas upon which the Mizunara paints a delicate and evocative picture. This is one of the most unique Irish whiskies we've ever enjoyed, and of the several Glendalough releases, our favorite. If you are able to find a few bottles, snap them up immediately. They may never come this way again.

Nose is honey, oak and dark chocolate. This has to be the most complex Irish whiskey I've ever had. The mizunara adds a layer of oak and chocolate that finishes with a long sweet spicy finish that stays long after you'd expect

Points for tasting different! Nose is strange. Oily texture. Fruity palate, and kind of rotten finish. Interesting. Aftertaste lingers and is not exactly pleasant