Some tantalizing Irish Whiskey news

[Jono]

Binny's Whiskey Hotline email letter indicates:

"Watch for a expansion of single pot distilled Irish whiskies making their way to the shores of the new land. If recent releases such as the stunning Midleton Barry Crockett and the entire Redbreast lineup are any indication, the future is bright."

The market demand (opportunity) is finally being addressed.

[tanstaafl2]

One of the stunning things about the Crockett Legacy was the price of course. Too much, for the moment, for me even though I would love to get one. But Green Spot and Powers John's Lane have been rumored to be on their way across the pond in 2013 for some time. Don't know if Yellow Spot will follow (although as noted in the comments section of a post by Sku it can already be found here, apparently as a special bottling).

Writers Tears is another I have read about but not tried yet. Not in the US either at the moment as far as I know. It is reportedly a blend of single malt and pot still whiskey put out be the same group that bottles the relatively new (at least to me) Irishman whiskies.

[Jono]

If they come in with "super premium" prices they will remain the unknown exotics. I had never heard of either Yellow Spot or Writers Tears.

Writers Tears comes across as a "Compass Box" like effort for Irish whiskey.

http://www.liquidirish.com/2010/09/writers-tears.html

http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2012/10/new-single-pot-still-irish-whiskey-yellow-spot/

I would like to see Irish whiskeys at higher proofs though the Yellow spot comes in at 46% which is good.

[MtnDew]

Love Redbreast, can't wait for more pot still Irish in the states. Just please make it up to the PacNW... things take so long to get here

[tanstaafl2]

If they come in with "super premium" prices they will remain the unknown exotics. I had never heard of either Yellow Spot or Writers Tears.

Writers Tears comes across as a "Compass Box" like effort for Irish whiskey.

http://www.liquidirish.com/2010/09/writers-tears.html

http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2012/10/new-single-pot-still-irish-whiskey-yellow-spot/

I would like to see Irish whiskeys at higher proofs though the Yellow spot comes in at 46% which is good.

Always a guess as to what the price will end up being. Comparing the British cost (minus VAT) to Redbreast here in the US it comes out pretty accurately at around $50-$55 (Although the price of Redbreast seems to be moving up of late. May depend on if the store has older stock or not).

The Barry Crockett Legacy doesn't hold true though as it is $30-40 more than the expected cost of around $190 ($225 and up here in the States that I have found).

Green Spot would likely end up at around the $50 mark using the same comparison as Redbreast for a NAS younger whiskey that is about 8 years old compared to the Redbreast at 12 years (Both are 80 proof).

Powers John's Lane (12 yo 92 proof) is more likely to be in the $60 range and Yellow Spot, should it be imported, would likely be at least $80 for the same age and proof.

But if they follow the Crockett Legacy model though they could be a lot more costly.

For higher proof there is already the Redbreast 12 Cask Strength weighing in at 115.4 proof.

The Irishman also had a cask strength option but it is rare and costs over $100.

Indeed the Irishman 70 or "original clan" is an interesting whiskey. It doesn't use grain whiskey but rather has a version that is 70% single malt and 30% single pot still (similar to the Writers Tears which comes from the same company but Writers Tears reportedly has a higher pot still component. And a higher cost...). They also have a 100% single malt whiskey. Personally I like that added pot still and it costs less than the single malt to boot! Probably under $30 if you can find it. It is 80 proof but a decent tasting whiskey.

[compliance]

I got to try a pot still flight at the Jameson distillery today. Red Breast 12, green spot, Powers John Lane, and a Middleton but I forget which edition. Anyway, powers John lane was my easy favorite. Nice coconut nose and richer earthy taste than the others. I look forward to that coming to the states. For reference it was $56 euro.

[unclebunk]

years (Both are 80 proof). Indeed the Irishman 70 or "original clan" is an interesting whiskey. It doesn't use grain whiskey but rather has a version that is 70% single malt and 30% single pot still (similar to the Writers Tears which comes from the same company but Writers Tears reportedly has a higher pot still component. And a higher cost...). They also have a 100% single malt whiskey. Personally I like that added pot still and it costs less than the single malt to boot! Probably under $30 if you can find it. It is 80 proof but a decent tasting whiskey.

I've really enjoyed both and they are priced at $25 and $40 here in Chicago. Good value either way and a nice change of pace.

[ThomasH]

I wish Jameson would send some Crested Ten to the states. I also recently saw a duty free only bottling of Tullamore 12 available only in Germany. It is aged in sherry casks. The company building the equipment for the expansion in my shop is from Germany and approx. 20 German engineers working on the project go back home tommorrow for Christmas. One already reserved me a bottle at duty free for there return flight here on Jan. 7th. Merry Christmas to me!

Thomas

[tanstaafl2]

I wish Jameson would send some Crested Ten to the states. I also recently saw a duty free only bottling of Tullamore 12 available only in Germany. It is aged in sherry casks. The company building the equipment for the expansion in my shop is from Germany and approx. 20 German engineers working on the project go back home tommorrow for Christmas. One already reserved me a bottle at duty free for there return flight here on Jan. 7th. Merry Christmas to me!

Thomas

Will be interested to hear what you think. The few reviews I have seen seem to be that people either love or hate the whiskey. Not much middle ground.

I generally like the Bushmills single malts which this uses as a base. There is a single malt Caribbean rum cask Bushmills I would love to be able to try that came out a few years ago.

[TheOakMonster]

Red Breast 12 just took a $15 price jump at the store I work at (from $48 to $63). We heard a price hike was coming, but never expected that much. We're continuing to carry the product for now, but if sales plummet we'll probably drop it. Too bad, it's good stuff.

[tanstaafl2]

I wish Jameson would send some Crested Ten to the states. I also recently saw a duty free only bottling of Tullamore 12 available only in Germany. It is aged in sherry casks. The company building the equipment for the expansion in my shop is from Germany and approx. 20 German engineers working on the project go back home tommorrow for Christmas. One already reserved me a bottle at duty free for there return flight here on Jan. 7th. Merry Christmas to me!

Thomas

Did you get your Tullamore Dew 12 yet? Is it different from the one at TPS? That is supposed to be a whiskey with a good portion from sherry casks as well.

[ThomasH]

I picked up the bottle today. Haven't tried it yet but expect it to be different from the regular 12yr. which has whiskey aged in both sherry and bourbon barrels!

Thomas

[tanstaafl2]

I picked up the bottle today. Haven't tried it yet but expect it to be different from the regular 12yr. which has whiskey aged in both sherry and bourbon barrels!

Thomas

I will be interested to hear what you think, especially if you have a regular TD 12 to compare it to.

[ThomasH]

Regular Tullamore 12 is at the top of my Irish list so it will be fun to compare!

Thomas

I will be interested to hear what you think, especially if you have a regular TD 12 to compare it to.

[unclebunk]

Paddy's resurfaced here at one or two stores after an absence of quite some time. Grabbed a few litre bottles, as it goes down well when we're looking for a decent session pour.

[tanstaafl2]

Regular Tullamore 12 is at the top of my Irish list so it will be fun to compare!

Thomas

If you get a chance a picture of the special 12yo would be great. Never know when a friend will be passing through Germany.

[Gillman]

Of all the ones mentioned, one of the best, of those I tasted, was the first release of Irishman 70 with a creamy rich flavor. But subsequent bottlings were not as good IMO. Writers Tears never seemed as good to me despite the higher price and ditto for Green Spot.

Gary

[unclebunk]

Of all the ones mentioned, one of the best, of those I tasted, was the first release of Irishman 70 with a creamy rich flavor. But subsequent bottlings were not as good IMO. Writers Tears never seemed as good to me despite the higher price and ditto for Green Spot.

Gary

I loved that original Irishman 70 as well and had my hands on a bottle on Saturday but put it back due to the large volume of other items I was buying. It's actually fairly hard to come by around here with the exception of some (though not all) of the Binny's stores in Chicagoland. I assume you've had the Irishman single malt as well?

[tanstaafl2]

I loved that original Irishman 70 as well and had my hands on a bottle on Saturday but put it back due to the large volume of other items I was buying. It's actually fairly hard to come by around here with the exception of some (though not all) of the Binny's stores in Chicagoland. I assume you've had the Irishman single malt as well?

Don't know if the Irishman 70 and Single Malt I had was the earliest stuff. I did buy it when it first came into the market here. Still have a couple of bottles of the cask strength as well (the 2010, not 2009).

I find I prefer the Irishman 70 over, or at least equal to the SM, while it costs a good bit less. Didn't replace the SM when I finished it and I haven't noticied a change in the Irishman 70. But I just recently got a new bottle of the Irishman 70 and haven't opened it yet.

With the popularity of single pot still whiskey on the rise maybe they are having trouble getting what they want for their blend.

Edited January 14, 2013 by tanstaafl2