The Sexton Single Malt

Rating: 9/23 N: Surprisingly floral on the nose with some citrus (orange and lime) and a sugary syrup. Honestly, I could believe that this was the nose of a tropical cocktail made with orange juice, lime juice, and Rose's grenadine. I can believe that there's Irish whiskey in this, but it certainly isn't the most prominent smell. P: Kind of weak at first, then sugary and a bit burning. After that, some dry, slightly burnt grass comes out in the midst of intense floral fruitiness. I'm getting a lot of that grenadine and some of the lime bitterness, with sort of a nectary orange layer tying them together. I don't hate it, but it sure is weird. Some malty sweetness as well, but it's restrained in the usual Irish fashion. I am definitely getting a bit of a rough alcohol flavor here. I'm getting some very surprising Metaxa Grande Fine vibes here. F: Toasty, dry grass with malt, rose petals, and restrained orange zest and lime. This is sort of a more zingy and refreshing version of the palate. - Conclusion - This is an odd one. I really didn't expect this profile. I suppose it would be fun in a tropical cocktail, but outside of one it's a bit challenging. Still, it is kind of fun neat. In limited quantity. Knappogue Castle 12 (15/23) is richer, smoother, and more coherent, though it has a less interesting profile. This definitely burns more and shows more alcohol. This isn't bad, but a 14 would be a stretch for it. I'm thinking a 12 or 13, though I'm concerned that that biting alcohol may be too harsh and present for such a high rating. Metaxa Grande Fine (6/23) is much more sweet and floral and weird and just off. That said, it doesn't taste as bad in comparison as I'd expected. Maybe I underrated the Mextaca - or maybe this just isn't bery good. This is closer to the Mextaca than to the Knappogue Castle, which would suggest that this is a 10 at best. Switching back to this, I again find it challenging and burning, though I do find its profile to be kind of fun. I'm pretty convinced at this point that this won't be beating a 10, though I don't see it being as low as a 6 and a 7 also seems a bit harsh. I was worried that this might only be a little bit better than all of those cheap Irish drams that I rated at 9, but I think that is actually manages to be worse. I wasn't sure, but coming back to this I'm smelling and tasting some gasoline. I'm down to a 7 or 8. Ugh, this could even be a 6 or lower. That plastic gasoline element is way too strong. It's like poison. My question now is: why does seeming like poison not make this the absolute worst thing I've ever tried? Trying this again, I'm getting hints of that gasoline, but not nearly as much as before. I still get plenty of alcohol bite and youthful vibes with various citrus and a watery nectar flavor, as well as a bit of toasty grain with light oil. This isn't nearly as bad as before, but it's certainly still not good. This still has nothing on Knappogue Castle 12. It's also clearly behind Breuckelen Distilling 77 American Single Malt Aged 7 Years Bourbon Cask Finished. I think that the 7-8 I was thinking of previously is too harsh. It'd be really tough to give this more than a 12 though. I'm thinking that it's most likely a 9 or 10. It's tough with all that harshness and bit of gasoline, but I do really like that tropical element. Overall, considering how much this burns at a mere 40% ABV, I think that an 8 might actually be back in the picture. I'm going with a 9.

Nose: Very fruity and malty. Very reminiscent of a Highland scotch. Citrus, apple and pear predominate. Very warm and welcoming. Palate: Kind of surprising. It’s good but it’s not what I would expect from an Irish single malt. It has the fruitiness that the nose promises, but it also has more of a spicy character that I usually associate with blended Irish whiskies. It’s like Green Spot meets McConnell’s. At first the sherry influence didn’t show up for me, but going back to it after a few minutes the sherry definitely shows up in the form of dark dried fruits like raisins, currants and figs. The maltyness shows up too, giving an almost holiday fruitcake taste. Finish: Spicy, malty, much less fruity. At first very pleasant but then a bit of bitterness shows up, not overpowering but enough to detract from the overall experience. Overall, the more time I spend with it, the more I like it. Sometimes it presents as a sherry aged single malt, but sometimes I still get that hint of blended whiskey. Not that that is a horrible thing, just unexpected from a single malt. It’s also much more spicy and less mellow that what I normally expect from a triple distilled Irish whiskey- perhaps that is from not being aged as long.

A fruity nose opens with a bouquet of sherry notes and sweetened grains all wrapped in a very thin caramel. Noticeably young at first nosing, with a slight note of nail polish remover from the alcohol appearing on the tail. As you let it breathe for a few minutes however, this off note eventually disappears, though the nose stays quite feisty for the low ABV. I get red currants and fresh strawberries, then a bit of orange marmalade and a whiff of lemon meringue pie. Next the cereals, coated in corn syrup, along with a hint of pistachio nut, a whisper of oak, and vague chai-like spices. On the palate it’s equal parts fruity, sweet, bitter and spicy. Right off I get sweet sherry and malt, but also dried herbal bitterness, citrus pith tang, and a copper-like note. Then, the heat picks up with loads of black pepper and a little chili but quickly fades. Medium bodied, and no legs at all, it just falls in jagged sheets. The finish is bittersweet, with more of the same from the palate, but with more oak plus some tobacco, unsweetened chocolate, and leather. Take your time with this one and you won’t be disappointed. Think: “poor man’s Macallan”. Nose: 9 Taste: 8 Body: 6 Finish: 9

No age statement 40% vol. Colored, triple distilled Sherry casks. Nose: intense, fresh and clean aroma. Not sophisticated, pretty simple typicall Irish notes- summer fruits, apples, pear, lychee + sherry influence. Smells so good that it's seems not natural, artificial... Honey, grass and some wet wood also there. Palate: it's triple distilled, but because it's still young you can feel some sharp edges. Bittersweet, fruit cake, copper. Finish: hard candy, pear, apple seeds. Spice pinch. Irish + sherry = awesome stuff! Confession: bought this just because of cool bottle and affordable price.... And I really happy that I did that - best thing that I have tried in a long time. Such a refreshing breeze among these confusing times. Need to do head to head comparison with Black Bush. Compare with Writers Tears, Sexton way superior. It's tastes good and looks good on you shelf as well, so grab one ASAP.

From the first scent, there is a heavy sherry coloration on this liquid. Almost dessert-like, with a sweet and cheery nose. This character comes through even more upon tasting. The whiskey sings sherry, and coupled with the inherent sweetness of the malt, this makes for a powerful duo. Een the mouthfeel has a somewhat heavier quality, adding to the richness of the experience. We have really enjoyed this spirit and it has been our “go to” for several days. Plus, the bottle itself is a work of art. This is a fun, lively and expressive Irish that has won our hearts.

On the nose, a coffee, semi sweet chocolate, and sherry note are immediate. Further wafts also pick up dried apricot, and some light spices. Tasting immediately brings forth the spices which are hot at first than simmer nicely coating the palate and tongue. Other notes include black pepper, smoke, and white raisin. Quite complex for an 80 proof whiskey. Overall Impression: Nose 3/5; Taste 4/5 Overall 3.5/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Friday Night Pour