Paddy's Irish Whiskey

Nose: Quite full, with a pleasant buttery richness. Sweet malt and honey aromas with a hint of dried fruits, oatmeal biscuits and a definite suggestion of rockmelon (cantaloupe). It's an appealing and inviting nose. Palate: Sweet arrival, very like the flavour of golden syrup or thinned malt extract, and this remains the dominant note on the palate. There is little development, and it's very fast, but you do notice creamy vanilla, caramel fudge, a hint of green apple and mild, sweet nutty notes. The texture is full and very soft. Finish: Short. The malt-extract and syrup character fades to generic sweetness with an afterthought of oak. A basic but surprisingly pleasant bottom-shelf Irish blend. It's a bit bland but has a sweet malty profile, which is undoubtedly what makes it work. To give it its due there are no obvious faults, although I'd wager that if you drank more than a couple of drams it would become cloying. Its sweetness is its strength, but also its flaw. It's an easy drinking session whiskey that works just fine neat, diluted or with ice and certainly won't break the bank. In Australia this is one of the cheapest whiskies you can buy, and if you prefer your whiskey to be free of any smoke character then it would be preferable to most bottom-shelf blended scotches. "Average" : 78/100 (2.75 stars)

1 liter bottle. Pours a pure yellow color. Not very leggy, but lots of specks that look like raindrops on the inside of the glass. The nose is buttercream cake frosting at first. Some brown sugar and marzipan. There is also a soft aroma that reminds me of nothing more than kindergarten paste. The deeper you sniff, however, the harsher it gets: metallic, like the inside of an empty tin can; smoke from a soldering iron. The taste has a lot of stuff going on, surprisingly. Metallic like a battery, with a touch of bitter lemon drop. Vanilla creme and almonds. Candle-wax and banana-flavored hard candy. The end is sharp: cloves and an extinguished match. It finishes with a melange of candied oranges, vanilla tobacco, bitter tannins and coffee grounds. Paddy's is a very good value for the amount of flavor you get. It's no shrinking violet, and although it has the hallmarks of your typical Irish -- metal, vanilla, etc. -- it slaps you around just a touch at the end. It's a terrific nightcap on the rocks.

C'mon, it's kind of hard not to like this. It's nothing complex or powerful but it's just mild and pleasant. The nose has honey sweetness and a sort of fresh-baked-bread smell. The flavor is delightfully sweet with a nice malty base and a hint of lemon. It's very light but in a way that feels appealingly gentle, smooth, and creamy rather than just weak or bland. No one is going to reach for this to showcase the bold experience of hardcore whiskey, but it's a nice accompaniment to a relaxing evening and it's dangerously easy to drink. Basically this is the whiskey equivalent of a basic glazed donut. It's simple and straightforward but darn if it isn't pretty tasty. Also, this bottle cost less than $15. (Okay that part isn't like a donut.) Considering that price this is a winner for me.

On the nose I get a lot of fruit. Hints of applesauce and green grapes, also a little tartness like lemon or grapefruit. The taste is less fruity than the smell would suggest, it’s there but much more subtle. It’s a little sweet and well rounded but not really complex. It’s very nice but there’s a little hint of bitterness or tannin on the finish. It’s not really oaky, not like oak wood. It almost reminds me of an acorn. I’m not a fan of this bitterness, but it’s mild enough not to bother me. This whiskey was recommended to me as being very good considering how inexpensive it is, and I would agree with that.

Nose: Citrus fruits, lemon mostly. Apples and vanilla. Grain. Slight ethanol. Hints of grassiness. Palate: Pie crusts along with hints of cinnamon. Syrupy flavor bringing rich sweetness. Some more vanilla here. Apples coming in towards the end. Finish: Medium-long. Very warm. Apple lingering. Overall Thoughts: I really like it. It’s hearty and strong. Packs a punch that would catch anyone off guard. Flavors are ok the simpler side but it’s certainly not lacking some mystery. Wouldn’t say it’s something I’d consider to be higher end but this is a grand end-of-the-party whiskey to be sure. I’ll savor it!

I’ve been venturing out of my bourbon comfort zone lately and have been mixing it up. Time for another basic blended Irish whiskey. The nose is light and sweet with pear, lime citrus, some floral notes, light nuttiness with some light malt. The palate is sweet and light with vanilla, a light maltiness, and a nutty note. The finish is short with an initial burst of the notes form the palate, with a memory of vanilla. Nothing special here. Just a very light, non complex, easy sipping Irish whiskey. It might be slightly more interesting than standard Jameson.