Red Spot 15 Year Single Pot Still

SPOT SHOWDOWN Green Spot Single Pot-Still Irish Whiskey Red Spot 15-Year Single Pot-Still Irish Whiskey While I’ve reviewed Green Spot before (August 25, 2022), I’ve never reviewed Red Spot, nor have I reviewed them side-by-side. Of the four broad whisk(e)y groups (American whiskey, Irish whiskey, Scotch whisky, and Japanese whisky), I’m least experienced with Irish Whiskey, which I’m attempting to rectify. Spot Whiskey gets its name from the distillery’s practice of making each barrel with a “spot” of green, blue, yellow, or red paint, based on its contents. Green Spot Single Pot-Still Irish Whiskey Clear Pantone 138 in color. Fruity but mild nose brings an initial hit of Granny Smith apples, along with a little melon and orange marmalade, a little coolness, and a whiff of ethanol despite the low ABV. (The “spot-on banana popsicle” from my previous review is there as well). There is an initial apple tartness on the palate, followed by sweet honey, a little cinnamon, toasted oak, and a slight bitterness on the finish. There’s a lot to like here. The biggest obstacle in the way of Green Spot is economics: 40% ABV will never make a great whisk(e)y. Of course, a whiskey must have the flavor profile to support a higher proof. Additionally, “great whiskey” may not be Green Spot's objective. It isn’t cheap; it currently retails for just under $60. (It should be noted that Middleton produces some special editions of Green Spot aged in various wine casks which are offered at 46% ABV). Would I buy it again? No, but purely on an economic and value basis. It’s very good, but expensive for a 40% ABV whiskey. 3.75 on the Distiller scale. 40% ABV. NAS. Red Spot 15-Year Single Pot-Still Irish Whiskey Virtually identical Pantone 138 in color, which is a bit surprising given the 15-year age statement. Dramatically different nose than the Green Spot, with much warmer tones of sandalwood, chocolate, banana bread, walnuts, vanilla extract, and biscuits, as well as some of the same orange marmalade that I picked up on the Green Spot, but more intense. The palate has a mouthcoating oiliness and amazing depth of flavor, mimicking the same items on the nose. There is some mild spiciness, and the alcohol is well-concealed. Long finish with papaya, vanilla, and a little bittersweet cocoa. Red Spot is a special whiskey—the best Irish Whiskey I’ve had thus far. It is by no means a daily sipper, but if you’re serious about whisk(e)y in general, and Irish Whiskey in particular, it’s a must-have. Red Spot can be found for about $200. Would I buy it? (Not again, as this one is on temporary loan from a friend). Yes. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 46% ABV. 15-year age statement. Non-chill filtered. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Nose: Apricots, cherries, red berry juice, wine, brandy, red apples, caramel, spiced butter cookies and a hint of sandalwood. It’s a warm and fruity nose with baking spices in support. Water strengthens the caramel note. Palate: Oily barley with forest-fruit jam, cookies and fortified wine in the arrival. In the development I got oak spice, tannin, black pepper and walnut skins but the red-fruit character is king here and never subsides. A dash of water amplifies the fortified wine note even further and makes the texture softer and more silky, but also emphasizes the pepper spice. Finish: Medium. Oak, spices, fortified wine and red fruit. There is a familial similarity between all the “spot” whiskies that I have tried, but this Red Spot shows the most defined fortified red-wine influence. It has an interesting fruitiness that is compelling and both subtle and intense. It could easily be a wine-dominated train-wreck of a whisky but it somehow avoids disaster while maintaining a vigourous potency of character. I think it's the oily pot-still spirit that is key here - it probably wouldn't work as well with all malted barley spirit. I don’t know what type of marsala casks they use for Red spot but I’d guess they held sweet red marsala, but it could be a mix of casks. I’ve never been that partial to Green Spot but I am a devotee of the 12 year old Yellow Spot with its full-bodied malaga wine influence and I prefer it to this whisky, however that is very much a personal taste thing and I can see how a different palate would prefer Red Spot. In fact, on a different day I might prefer Red Spot myself. It's a bit like choosing between sauternes or port wine for dessert after a good meal ... both are great choices. I’m also basing this review on a single bar-pour and I’d prefer to get to know Red Spot better, but my gut feeling is that these are different but related versions of Midleton distillate that have been very skillfully crafted to appeal to different palates. The age difference is not that great but the maturation process for Red Spot is more costly and complex, hence its much higher price. It's a lovely whisky, and something suitably special for my 1,200th review. I’m giving it the same rating I gave Yellow Spot. Tasted as a 25 ml pour at Midleton Distillery Bar, 20 May 2024 “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Comparatively speaking, the nose of Red Spot is gentle and sweet vs Yellow Spot. Delicious apricots, apples and cherries dance around in your nose. There's a bit of slightly smoky, charred oak... hardly noticeable and just a gentle touch of leather jacket towards the tail end of the nose. Makes for a very sweet and fruity nose but with just enough deviation to make you go in for another smell, as its quite different than the million other sherry cask whiskies on the market. The taste starts very fruity with some tart and sweet raspberries; incredibly vibrant. As the whiskey works its way down, a bit of spicy and tingling black pepper underlies the taste and just the tiniest bit of tannic oak ushers in the finish. Not nearly as much tannins as Yellow. The finish brings back sweet fruit after the tannic oak leaves the scene, along with a little bit of baking spice. Red spot seems to be the most fruit forward selection of all the standard spot whiskies. But where other wine cask whiskies literally jam the red fruit flavor down your throat, this beautiful selection doesn't hold your head down in a vat of cherries and raspberries in an effort to suffocate you in red fruit. Thank God for that. No, instead this fruity, sweet and complex Irish really redefines what a wine cask whiskey can accomplish. Bravo, and a must try for sure.

Distiller Review No. 800 Nose: I smell short bread cookies, caramel, toffee, malt, red berries, and baking spices. Palate: Oily, savory and semisweet, with butter cookies, dried red fruits, cereal, baking spices, toffee, caramel, and walnuts. Finish: Long and smoldering, with malt, cereal, red fruits, baking spices, and a bittersweet walnut note, which contrasts nicely with the palate. These notes are just the tip of the iceberg . Its very complex and super enjoyable! I have thoroughly enjoyed this nearly 5 year long journey of exploration, sampling many different types and styles of distilled spirits. I have challenged myself and palate, reaching beyond the safety of sweet red wines and rum and coke, into the spicy and smoky worlds of rye whiskey, Islay whiskey, and mezcal. But, can a leopard change his spots? I find myself constantly drifting back to the sweet end of the ditilled spirits spectrum. That’s my wheel house. Good to know thyself I suppose.

Aroma is exquisite and pungent for the proof with candied nuts, white grape, butter, green apple, fig, malt, leather, and fresh, soft wood. Ethanol nearly non-existent. On the palate, the sherry cask makes its presence known with a variety of fruits (apple, pear, grape), along with powdered sugar, cola, marzipan, butterscotch, and hazelnut. Rich, but delicate at the same time. Oh man, the finish takes this to another level; fruits turn a little darker with plum, date, and fig, meeting a slightly tannic oak which provides contrast. Mouthfeel is soft and velvety and very complimentary. A truly first class Irish whiskey. I paid $139 for this, which I understand is a steal compared to the secondary market, but I feel this is an appropriate price point; as the quality is certainly there. Would absolutely rebuy at anywhere near retail.

Ruddy copper color. Legs are very slow to form, and irregularly spaced when they do appear. Quite sticky The nose is rich with malty sweetness and lots of ripe fruit and maybe just a hint of honeysuckle. It's soft, sweet, and approachable. Sweet up front that gives away to a back and forth between Woody barrel tones and a fruity sweetness that I can only assume comes from the Sherry and Marsala casks. There's a anise like character that comes through late on the finish and adds a layer of richness to the flavor profile that seems uncommon in Irish whiskeys I've tried. It's got a long finish and is very interesting to drink. What a treat. Definitely a top three Irish whiskey for me so far.