Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Special Reserve

Irish whiskey purchase in March, and this was $5 off that month making it $45 total. This was the first age-stated Irish whiskey I've had. It has a subtle nose that is a combination of Scotch single malt and Irish whiskey. Although it is supposed to be a blend of whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks, the Oloroso influence is minimal. I get butterscotch, shortbread, vanilla, and oak spice. Classic Irish nose with the sharp edges of young grain whiskey rounded out by age. Mostly vanilla and shortbread on the tongue, sweeter than it smells. Kind of reminds me of a Boston creme filling. The tannins from the oak and malt character pop out on the finish. It takes you on a little journey from sweet to oak spice to sweet again. Again, barely any fruits detected from the Oloroso casks. Overall I think the whiskey is dominated by ex-bourbon casks and Irish blend, while the malt and Oloroso impact are muted. I think this is a fine whiskey. However, for the price I could've bought a number of Scotch whiskeys I haven't had or bought the cheaper Bushmills 10Y. There's not enough here that screams to me, buy this for $50. It is like an Irish take on a simple Highland single malt, which you can buy from Tomatin or Glenmorangie for less $$. I will point out that I really like the bottle and wood cork, may be one worth keeping after I'm finished.

A nice fruity likeable whiskey. First opened under a metal roofed pavilion in a flash rainstorm at twilight. Very small tasting pour to start with and glad of it, since the gnats seemed to love it exclusively and left other folks drinks (red wine) alone. Only managed two quick sips before my least favorite protein source started their swim session. Oh well, tomorrow is always another day. Have decided to take on the cigar experience after 34 years without anything tobacco. I can now say that any decent 92pt. Rocky Patel robusto goes very well with the D.E.W. The sweetness of the whiskey makes for a smooth combination with the milder cigars I have on hand. Sitting outside on the backyard glider aligned 90* to the wind makes for a very nice experience and keeps the clothing fresh. Apparently the neighbors (all friends) have taken notice and will be joining in soon. At 67 now and truly retired, I find it's the little pleasures that satisfy most. And in that vein I can say that sipping a blended 12 year old Irish with good mouthfeel, taste and mild burn at 80 proof is one of them. Life is not only good, it's getting better all the time (cue the Beatles).

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old is a blended Irish whiskey that, unfortunately, fails to impress with much in the way of complexity or character. A blend of grain and malt whiskeys, it lacks the depth and smoothness one might expect from a dozen years of aging. On the nose, there are faint notes of vanilla, green apple, and a touch of citrus, but they’re underwhelming and fleeting. The palate offers little excitement — thin-bodied with flavors of cereal, dry oak, and a hint of honey that does little to save it. There’s a noticeable absence of softness or balance, leaving the experience rather uninspired and even slightly harsh at times. At its price point, Tullamore 12 Year Old feels notably overpriced, especially when compared to other aged blends and single malts in the same range. While it's drinkable, it doesn’t offer enough flavor or refinement to justify the cost. Overall: 75/100 A forgettable pour that leans more on its age statement than actual quality. Suitable for casual sipping, but don’t expect much beyond that.

A few things jump out here when you compare this to the standard Tullamore. First and (without a doubt) foremost is the texture. The body on this whiskey is notably creamy, especially when compared to the original. It’s to the benefit of the palate too, because the subtle viscosity allows more time for the flavors to reveal themselves. That’s where the second thing jumps out, and it’s that striking chocolate note. That note is nowhere to be found in the original. Here, its very prominent, but it does share the stage with a noticeable increase in sherry spice, which also lends itself to make the nose more vibrant (still soft and subdued though). Overall, I have to give this whiskey points because it is a notable improvement on its younger brother. There are definitely better Irish whiskies out there, but the craftsmanship worked well here.

Triple distilled, blended whiskey aged average 12 years in old oak bourbon and sherry casks, 40% abv. Tasting neat. Light golden color in the glass with thin coating legs. Nose is light sweet grain, and a floral vanilla. First sip, musty grain and sweet mush cereal, then oak, vanilla, and a some ethanol. A little saline and dry, with a thin mouthfeel. Some spice and grass shows up in the finish, which is pleasant but short with a hint of sour (sherry?) that lingers. Really, a classic Irish profile. It's not too sweet, has that saline quality, and light sherry/bourbon oak flavors. It rates fairly close behind the Green Spot and Redbreast 12 in my book. Less intense flavors, a calmer Irish blend. Easy to sip. Ice stretches it out pretty quickly. Would love to see what this looks like at 45 or 50 ABV, but then that would be a different whiskey.

Nose is very faintly almonds backed by Demerara sugar and what could charitably be described as a burnt pie crust lurking in the shadows. Palate is heavy-ish, mouth-coating but not overly viscous, and with a bit more heat than I would have expected for 12yrs and 40abv. Vanilla, honeysuckle and canned fruit salad in light syrup (with its commensurate slightly metallic side-note) is the best I can come up with. Close is short but not abrupt, slightly hot, and consists almost completley of those wood tannins I expected earlier. The mouthfeel is really nice, but the flavor profile, or more appropriately the lack of any distinguishable flavors at all, is a huge letdown. Makes a great Irish coffee, but so does Jameson Black Barrel or Bushmills Black Bush, and they’re readily available, cost less, and dare I say, taste better?