Powers Signature Release

The final installment of the old Powers lineup is this here Signature Release. It’s also the only one that didn’t make the cut as they transitioned to the stout bottles (I much prefer this more slender look.) It was aged in ex-bourbon barrels and first fill Olorosso sherry casks. I guess they determined there wasn’t enough daylight between this and the Three Swallows to be worth keeping? It’s fitting to conclude my run of the old line with the installment they’ve decided to leave in the past. Nose: Almond, pecan, and walnut. Date and fig. Pound cake. Red grape. Craisin. Orange meringue. Caramel and vanilla. Honey. Maple sweetness. Palate: More of that pound cake. Date, fig, and raisin. Some vanilla and milk chocolate. Ice cream-like. Shortbread cookie and biscotti. Pecan. Caramel. Apple, pear, and apricot. Orange citrus and banana. Toffee and malt. Plum. It’s very plush. Finish: Shortbread cookie. Caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Honeydew, apple, pear, apricot, and orange. More of the ice cream. Pumpkin spice. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This one really surprised me. A lot of unique fruit and spice notes, and plenty of depth at 46% ABV. The profile is balanced, and there is no evidence of alcohol here—it’s just layers of fruit, nut, dessert, and spice from end to end. So how about VFM? So at $41, this far ahead of the basic Powers Gold, which is only $6 less. The Three Swallows is upwards of $60, and this was better than that without price even considered. VFM is more than there, and I’m giving this a rare 1/2 star boost from a 3.75 to 4.25. This is a really fine whisky, only exceeded by the John’s Lane 12 at the top of the distillery’s lineup in terms of quality. I’m all for the Irish adding rye whiskey to their lineups—what I’ve had has been solid—but they definitely dropped the ball by eliminating this from the range. 4.25/5.

The nose is gentle honey, malt, touch of oak spice, and sherry fruitiness. In the mouth it is soft and enveloping, showing what I consider to be a perfect balance of malt and grain in the pot still mash. Honey, malt, grain notes, orchard fruit, vanilla, a light touch of chocolate, a sherry depth and a sweetness fill the mouth with flavors. The sherry is in perfect balance for this single pot still, not a sherry bomb, but the perfect depth of fruit flavor to make this a nearly perfect Irish whisky. I admit I have never tasted Redbreast, Powers John Lane, or either Green or Yellow Spot; but, of the two or three dozen Irish whiskies I have tried, including a few single malts, I think this must be my favorite for balance of flavor. On the downside, I suspect this is being discontinued. I don't know this as a fact, but it is no longer listed on the Powers web site, the big stores in the KC area told me the last time they could get it was November 2018, and the online stores are either closing it out at sale prices or boosting the price on their few remaining bottles. I for one have purchased a few of the sale bottles while they are available. If you have never tried this expression, I hope you can find a bottle before they are gone---if my suspicions are correct.

If loving Powers is wrong, then I don't want to be right - I have yet to have a disappointing whiskey from them. This is their lower priced (and NAS) single pot still offering, and while there's a hint of young spirit heat, there's plenty of smoothness and flavor to make that a forgivable offense. There's an unabashedly bourbon cask forward quality - loads of sweet vanilla and spice with hints of coconut - that accentuates the already sweet and spicy house style of single pot still. The sherry influence is more notable at the finish, as plummy dried fruit notes come through and linger alongside the vanilla and spice for a long time on the palate. Full, rich, almost creamy...this is a big dram for the price. A great introduction to single pot still whiskey for someone new the genre and not quite ready to shell out for Johns Lane or Redbreast.

Nose: light and sweet. honey, meade like, melon, light banana and nut, light fruit - pear? Palate: slightly watery, sweet, honey, barrel, nutty, pear?, ethanol, clove? Finish: dry, quick, disappointing There's some kind of light fruit(s) in here and delicious sweetness. The sweetness also seems to have some kind of clove-like spice to it. I really had to try and get these notes, instead of them being really clear and impactful. The finish was really lacking, if there even was a finish. 3.0, could be a 3.25 - Sure I'll take some - tasty but unimpressive. Have definitely had better from Power's.

I'm getting shortbread cookies on the nose along with some honeyed graham crackers and floral notes. On the palate the thick creamy texture immediately noticeable. This is really nice! Vanilla custard, honey and a soft honeydew note developing mid-palate. Finishes spicy and peppery, maybe a bit hot but not unpleasant. Solid reasonably priced Irish whiskey.

This is a 3 star whisky, so why the 4 stars? The quality vs cost. Surprisingly refreshing, you can really taste the sherry casks. If you want a n Irish Whisky, for a low price, and don't like peat, this is a good contender. Red Breast, Yellow Spot, Greenspot are of course better, but none can be had for $30-$35.