The Busker Single Pot Still (Single Collection)

I always want to say something substantive in a tasting. If nothing else, I like to believe that every whisky you buy has a story behind it, and I think that's interesting. Why did you reach for that particular bottle on the shelf instead of the other? If you've lived with the bottle a while, what type of evolution did your journey with that bottle go through. And if the bottle is astoundingly good, I want to hear all about the tasting notes and complexity of it. On the other hand, sometimes there's not much substantive to say. I first read about Busker in Whisky Advocate and the high 80s review they gave most of the variations (blended, single pot still, single malt) cross-referenced with the lower prices, piqued my interested. Only thing is that they didn't sell Busker in Pennsylvania. Where they did sell Busker was in Jersey, and though they didn't carry the Single Malt, they had the Blended and Single Pot Still. And since I like Redbreast and Green Spot, and since I'm for the most part now averse to blended Irish in anything aside from mixed drinks (the Tipperary is a good one, anyone make that?), I was curious to see what a Single Pot Still that was $27 cheaper tasted like. And now, to the tasting notes: it tastes $27 dollars cheaper. Which doesn't mean it's undrinkable or even terrible, but the nose is like a mix of candied red apple (which I always expect in an Irish whisky) and vanilla with a slight tinge of nail polish (or perhaps nail polish remover...since, um, I don't regularly engage with either nail polish or nail polish remove but grew up with sisters in the house). On the palate, this one is sweeter than most Irish whiskies, if you can even imagine that, with a mix of lacquered cherry lollipop and Robitussin (which spell check doesn't recognize here but which I believe I've spelled correctly; and for those of you not in the know, that's cough syrup). The finish is short with a quick burn of more cherry candy. And so, in the end my assessment is either that you spend an additional $7 for Kilbeggan Single Pot Still (which I own and haven't tasted yet but have to imagine is better than this), drop the extra $27 on Redbreast 12 or Green Spot (both of which are light years beyond this) or turn this into Tipperaries (probably the best option). I'm giving this a 2.75 because I gave my first review here of Writer's Tears Copper Pot a 2.75 and they're equivalent in quality. When asked to choose between the two, it's a toss up, but I'd be likelier to spend the money on Writer's Tears. Anyway, here's the Tipperary recipe if you're in the mind for it: 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1/2 ounce green Chartreuse 2 dashes Angostura bitters Garnish: orange twist Cheers! Oh, and p.s., I love the bottle design here. It won't make me give it a higher rating, but I figured I'd mention that. Lovely bottle.

Nothing too crazy but plenty tasty. The nose is apple and sweet cinnamon on top of a doughy base, like an apple coffee cake. On the palate there is a bit of that doughy flavor especially as you first sip, and the spice becomes more prominent, with a tangy, woody vanilla that is, to me, strongly reminiscent of bourbon. Perhaps an influence of the bourbon cask? The finish is fairly hot but in a pleasant way and leaves you with a nice warm feeling. This is somewhat different from the (admittedly few) other Irish whiskeys I've tried, especially in its bourbon-like notes. It's got a satisfying rich, warm character. The flavors are fairly bold, although not super complex. I do wish for a bit more of the typical hearty-bread pot still flavor, but this has its own charm. In a weird way I almost like the "afterglow" of this more than the sip itself, sort of like how you may only appreciate how comfortable you were snuggled up in a chair when you have to get up. When I try to pay attention to the separate components of it none of them seems that great, but after taking a sip I feel nice and cozy. The bottle cost only $28. I haven't seen many if any other single pot stills at this price. I could definitely see getting another bottle somewhere down the line.

N: Cherry Hi-C and oak. I'm not quite sure what to make of that combo. It is unique, if nothing else. Cherry cough syrup, orange citrus. Maybe some baking spice way deep in the background. P: More cherry Hi-C and oak. Bit more tart this time and leaning more toward that syrupy cough medicine. Milk chocolate when you run air across it. Baking spice does build in mid-palate with cinnamon, coriander, and a little cayenne spiced melted butter and brown sugar. Finish is gets pretty hot with a chili pepper character. Good amount of bitter oak tannin too. Some of that cherry carries through to the end, even more on the cough syrup side now, but with a dash of chocolate that does eventually feel like chocolate covered cherry. That first and dominant artificial cherry note is really just too much for me. I never got past it and it never grew on me. Spending the extra time with it to write the review tonight, I get a bit more depth on the palate than I had noticed before. But it's not enough to make this more than just a mediocre bottle. It's worth taking a flier on if you dig Single Pot Still, but I don't think I'll be repeating this one.

Another very tasty release from the Royal Oaks Distillery in southeastern Ireland. If I am reading the info correctly on their website the single pot mash bill is malted and unmalted barley, but no other cheaper grain that most others use. The distillate is aged in both former bourbon and sherry barrels. Pouring amber in the nosing glass it offers up a delightful bouquet of aromas, more so than the single malt. There are floral notes, vanilla, chocolate, honey, and gentle spice. These flavors wash across the tongue, all the time showing an underlying sweetness and hint of ripe fruit. It is very soft in the mouth, though not as silky as the single malt. The finish is medium and at the very end a bit of oak spice. If I could only choose one of this single pot still or the single malt to have on my desert isle, I would choose this delightful single pot still--but would wish I could have both.

Aroma reminds me of a Farmer’s Market in the fall with the mix of fruit and grain and pastries and breads, etc., etc., it’s so enjoyable; Palate is an earthier delivery of the array of profiles in the aroma, but without that “Farmer’s Market” essence since you can’t really taste a Farmer’s Market; Finish shifts and moves from fruity to more earthy but always fades to vanilla taffy.

At first I was not sure I liked the strong flavor of this one but it grew on me and after sitting for a while and after tasting the single malt, I think this is the best of the 3-4 variations. Reminds me of a much stronger flavor version of Teeling small batch but without as much burn and more viscous. The finish lingers a long time. Will likely buy again to have on hand.