Tyrconnell 15 Year Madeira Cask Finish

Rating: 17/23 N: Sweet, fruity. It smells on the sherried side of the spectrum. Kind of lightly fruity with a sizable floral character and something that just makes me think of Aberlour 12. I get a faint hint of cocoa powder in here. Otherwise, I'm having trouble picking out the details. P: It's sweet and kind of rich, but smooth. I do taste some of the alcohol coming through, but it also gives this a hint of licorice. This has a fuller flavor than Yellow Spot. What it reminds me most of off the bat is Aberlour 12 with its super mellow sherried (well, madieraed) finish. There's plenty of that fruit and floral flavor. I get some of that malty richness, but it isn't super strong or full of unique personality. It's very nice and easy drinking, but it's not memorable. There's some of that Irish oiliness, but it's fine. Compared with Aberlour 12, this is fuller, in part because of the oiliness. Yellow Spot tastes a bit more immature, but also more complex perhaps. Still, this is oilier and fuller with more fruit, in a way that reminds me of Bushmill's 21 a bit (though it has less of that characteristic Irish oiliness that Yellow Spot has). The fruit here is less chalky than what's in Aberlour 12 and it's fuller. Where Aberlour 12 tastes a bit watery, the oil helps fill this out. Bushmill's 21 is richer, sweeter, smoother, and has more apricot. This tastes youthful and even a tad harsh in comparison. Overall, I think it's fair to say that this does not taste tremendously old, but it is smooth. The oil is challenging at times, but I'm not really a fan of that Irish oiliness, so someone who is would probably love that aspect. Contrasting with the Bushmills, I'm now getting a bit of white pepper that adds to the complexity here and partially explains the increased harshness. (side note: I now see that Bushmill's 21 is partially finished in Madeira too). The complexity here is starting to grow on me. I'm liking this. It isn't amazing me, but it's decent competition for Yellow Spot. In terms of sheer accessibility, this is the winner. As I contemplate this more, I get more earthiness. It's on the dusty side. Somewhere I get a hint of spearmint (in a good way). This isn't as flat as it might have initially seemed. Yeah, this still tastes a lot like Aberlour. I'd better open some of my other Aberlours to compare. It's quite good, but not amazing. F: The finish gets a bit more bitter with more of the alcohol flavor coming out. The fruit does remain, but it's definitely on the bitter side. Some more of that dusty earth comes out. Some floral character still wafts through on occasion. - Conclusion - This is quite good, though I'm afraid I expected something better. The complexity is just not all here. It tastes like an upgraded version of Aberlour 12, but for the price it doesn't seem like an obvious win. Still, the more I explore this, the more complexity I get. And it's just very easy to sip on all occasions. For the price, I'm not sure this is a real winner, but it's sure enjoyable. I'm thinking a 16 or 17 for this one. I think I'd take Yellow Spot over this. I can also see how someone would prefer Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. I don't but I can understand that perspective. This has the least alcohol presence of the three, but it also just fails to wow me. I did briefly consider an 18 for this, but I don't think I can go with that right now. I currently have Yellow Spot at a 17, though it might deserve an 18. I think I'll go with 17 here for now.

The nose starts with faint floral notes of chamomile and orange blossoms followed by apple chips and nectarines then toasted macadamia nuts, a light ginger spice, cloves and shredded coconut flakes with a light ethanol burn. The taste starts with a light mouthfeel starting with chamomile tea and fruits of apple chips and mandarin oranges before cinnamon red hots combined with a light bitterness builds then slowly fades to reveal cloves, nutmeg and light oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is short with stewed apples, mandarin oranges, chamomile tea, cinnamon red hots and a light bitterness. This is an easy sipping whiskey with a mixture of floral, fruit and light spice aromas that carries over to the taste, but then transitions mid-palate to a mixture of medium spice and bitterness akin to a mouth full of red hots and grapefruit that fades into a short finish with light fruit and floral notes reappearing along with a milder version of that red hot and grapefruit spice/bitter combination. Overall, this is an enjoyable and tasty whiskey, but the balance is off with those bitter and spicy notes overpowering most of the flavors and I’d prefer a Writers Tears Double Oak for around $60 instead of the $100 these cost to help satisfy my Irish whiskey cravings. Also, a huge thanks to @ContemplativeFox for the generous sample of this for me to taste and helping keep my Irish whiskey exploration going.

Nose - honey, fig, apricot, sultana, peach, grape, white pepper, apple, ginger, butterscotch, vanilla, pecan, cocoa, cereal grain, cinnamon, bitter herbal notes, orange, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - peach, honey, apricot, vanilla, caramel, fig, pecan, lemon, chili pepper, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, sweet floral notes, sour apple, mint, cereal grain, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with honey, sweet stone fruit, and ginger flavors. I have to admit that Tyrconnell is a distillery about which I know close to nothing. When I stuck my nose in the glass, I was expecting another highly grain-forward Irish whisky, but that’s not what you get here. It’s sweet, syrupy stone fruits, floral citrus, and decadent caramelized nuts. The palate is equally desert-like with boozy nuts and fruits, creamy vanilla, and a spicy, gingery zing. In a blind tasting, I’m sure I would have pegged this for a heavily finished Highland single malt. Specifically, this is very reminiscent of my experience with Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. I think this is slightly better actually, but it’s pretty close in quality for me. Overall this is not my favorite profile, and it veers slightly into sour territory. However, it’s a quality dram and has satisfied my food coma sweet tooth this evening. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And a big thank you to @ContemplativeFox for providing the sample!

Nose: Honey, Strawberries, Green Apples, Papayas, Mangoes, Brown Sugar, Pepper, Apricots, Cherries, Oranges, Toffee, Almonds, Nutmeg Palate: Flowers, Strawberries, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Pepper, Maple Syrup, Pineapples, Papayas, Honey, Raisins, Sultanas, Mangoes, Bananas, Coconut Finish: Raisins, Strawberries, Pepper, Brown Sugar, Honey, Vanilla, Cherries, Raspberries, Glazed Pineapples, Apricots

Nose : Fruity, but a little exotic. Vanilla, banana, orange, pear are the stars, but there is also mango and pineapple. Taste : The exotic fruits are still there, but they are hidden a bit by the malt. The sweetness of wine is felt after a bit. Finish : A little more intense than the taste, it is lengthy and tasty. The wine cask finish is seen here, as it is quite dry in the end.

I was expecting to like this one more than the Oloroso finish 16 year, only because I tend to really enjoy Madeira finished whiskey. However, while this was still quite good, I thought it came across as more sour, less full-flavored, and more bitter on the finish. Overall, it was still an enjoyable Irish, and I’m grateful to @ContemplativeFox for the pour.