West Cork Bourbon Cask

Review #33 - Whisk(e)y #21 Bought in 50ml bottle as part of an offer (paid 1 euro). It has a golden colour, with a relatively oily texture in the glass. Nose - Prominent grainy sharpness, but also sweetness, honey, oak spice, as well as some fruit (apples mostly). Taste - Very young taste. On the front end it is very sharp grainy spicy, but sweet and it soon turns to an effervescent, oilier and drier woody taste, with the honey which was also noticeable on the nose and orchard fruit (apples and pear). Finish - Short-medium, pleasant, with dryness, woodiness, and perhaps a very faint aroma of dried fruit, which is a bit surprising given the bourbon cask. These same aromas are faintly present in the long aftertaste. Overall, I am not a fan of the sharp grainy taste, especially since I prefer the rounder, heavier malt taste from single malts...but given the cost of the 50ml bottle, I would say that it was very decent, and drinkable. Definetly not something I would purchase a full bottle of, as I believe there are many more options left to be explored, but there are also many different Irish whiskeys which are considerably better at a similar price, such as Tullamore Dew Original. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

The nose is shortbread, but obscured by a heavier-than-expected alcohol fume. The taste is more of that buttery shortbread, with some apple syrup, dark stone fruits. With a little water added, that apple pie syrup really blooms. The water added brings out the cask tannins that pucker up the middle of the tongue. The texture is slick and buttery to the touch. The finish is Cask tannins, apple pie syrup, stone fruits and spicy citrus rind. This Irish is so beautifully easy to drink: so friendly and pleasant. It's not too sweet because the pucker short-circuits any oversweetness that might have tipped it out or balance. A wonderful value.

A pleasant budget Irish, good for the low price. The bourbon influence is apparent with vanilla up front and an oaky, slightly bitter finish. Seems like some slight vegetal and buscuit notes hiding in there. It is overall light and quite drinkable.

Dried fruit, caramel nose heavy on the nose. Some spice. Even some floral and vanilla notes. Fruity with honey taste. Bits of malt, vanilla and citrus. Medium fade of grain, caramel, spice, dried fruit.

Burning taste with smoky notes, plumps, chocolate and cherries. Bourbon notes are lightly presented in aftertaste. Generally the taste is rough and you feel 45 ABV instead of declared 40.

Sweet Carmel, vanilla and honey on the nose. Vanilla, honey, heather and Graham crack. Finishes with mild baking spices and a touch of heat. A very good blended Irish whiskey.