Tullamore D.E.W. 10 Year Single Malt

I think the Tullamore Dew 14 that I recently reviewed was meant to replace this one. Both single malts aged in Olorosso sherry, bourbon, port, and madeira casks. This one is slightly lower in ABV at 40% and obviously is 4 years younger. Let's see if those upgrades were enough to warrant discontinuing this one. Nose: Shortbread/sugar cookie, vanilla frosting, and caramel. Pencil shavings. Apple, pear, apricot, and orange. Plum. Perfume and floral notes. A little mango salsa. Oak. No ethanol burn. Solid nose. Palate: Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin on arrival. Caramel, shortbread cookie, toffee, and vanilla. Cranberry, blackberry, and plum. That represents the port. Some lime citrus. Just a bit of heat and spcie coming in the form of black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Oaky and woody. Great stuff. Finish: Length falls between short and medium--which should not be surprising at 40% ABV. Apple, pear, apricot, and banana, followed by cocoa, oak, and some light baking spices. It makes for a decent finish. This is very good whiskey. It definitely would've benefitted from a bump in ABV. The 4 casks play nicely here. Like with the 14-year, the bourbon barrel influence is obvious. The port cask takes prominence over the Olorosso that the 14-year favored. Overall, they're very similar, and my rating for each is identical. What does this mean? Perhaps the whiskey itself is simply overpowered by the cask variation at play. That would be understandable. Maybe the cask selection has devolved at some time between the transition between this whiskey to the 14-year. I lean toward the former. I won't look too much into that. The fact is that both are solid whiskeys. If you're a fan of Tully or Irish whiskey in general--and you're fortunate enough to spot one of these in the wild--buy on sight. Well worth the $55. Personally, I wouldn't mind TD reinstating this release alongside the 14, giving the former a bump up to 46% ABV. As it is, this one is solid.

Thick and floral on both the nose and the palate. Vegetal hints, like fresh plant clippings in new topsoil show up early in the sip, but are quickly overtaken by a sweet burst of honey and vanilla before the cereal grans take over. The finish is short and rather astringent, drying things out before cleanly fading. It's not Green Spot, but it's worth $35 to give it a try.

A decent dram, though incomparable to the 12 Special Reserve. The nose is eerily reminiscent of apple picking season - like walking through an orchard looking for the perfect tree. The remaining experience is light and regretfully short, with a finish that almost suggests bananas. Smooth and unassuming.

If Newton had been a drunk, he would‘ve loved this one. Have an orange marmalade toast in freshly laundered robe beside his favourite tree. A mix of earthy tones and dried apricot. And some pineapple. The nose is definitely quite intriguing and better than the underwhelming tangy palate.

I don't have much experience with Irish Whiskey, but I liked this one. Pretty smooth and sweet. Not as complex as Scotch, but not peaty either. I can see myself drinking this when I'm in the mood for a simpler flavor than Scotch.

The palate is outstanding and what really sets this whiskey apart. Very strong variety of tropical fruits on the palate, but not sweet. Tangy and fantastic.