Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish - Today

[Gillman]

The reason I said "today" in the title was, I've been buying this off and on for about 20 years. Every time I buy it, it tastes different. The first bottles were very fruity and minty, like certain yellow fruits but not banana.

Later, the whiskey seemed a little dull and woody. I had the odd nice bottle but it wasn't as good as the first time.

Last year, I bought two bottles and these were my least favourite: dull with an offputting "fresh wood" taste. It still had as all the bottlings do pot still notes, but not in the best presentation.

Today, I bought two more bottles, one to give a friend. This batch is one of the best I've ever had, as good as that first group which I bought in London. Not quite as fruity but full, sweet and rich in body with complex notes from the unmalted barleys.

This is classy stuff, the real deal and worth every penny.

Gary

P.S. I've never had Yellow Spot but I doubt I'd like it as much as the Green Spot because I don't like when the wood obtrudes and Yellow Spot is older. Green Spot - or rather this current bottling at LCBO - hits all the bases.

[tanstaafl2]

Today, I bought two more bottles, one to give a friend. This batch is one of the best I've ever had, as good as that first group which I bought in London. Not quite as fruity but full, sweet and rich in body with complex notes from the unmalted barleys.

This is classy stuff, the real deal and worth every penny.

Gary

P.S. I've never had Yellow Spot but I doubt I'd like it as much as the Green Spot because I don't like when the wood obtrudes and Yellow Spot is older. Green Spot - or rather this current bottling at LCBO - hits all the bases.

I have a couple of bottles from about a year ago that seemed good to me. But i think there have been some changes along the way is it got more popular and some people note that whiskey in the newer style bottle was younger and less fruity than those earlier versions.

I may bring one along to the sampler for those interested in trying it. I don't find the Yellow Spot to a problem to me (its quite nice actually although I like the Powers John's Lane a little better) but palates differ of course. Definitely a different whiskey but good in its own right.

[Gillman]

Well, I'm open to trying the Yellow Spot. But this current Green Spot at LCBO is superb. Of course, it is hard to know if what I tasted a year ago is the same as what each part of the U.S. received at the same time...

Gary

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Ahhh Gary, I have been buying more Irish lately and have been thinking of picking up Green Spot and Writer's Tears today. I think you have me sold on the Green Spot. A few days ago I tried a Irish single malt, Locke's 8 yo. The nose of mineral spirits and more mineral spirits on the palate. After one pour, the taste of mineral spirit stayed on my palate for 5+ hours. I returned it to LCBO for refund. I'm a fan of Redbreast 12yo, Black Bush and Jameson Select Reserve. I hope the Green Spot and Writer's Tears are as enjoyable as those.

[MyOldKyDram]

Is there similar variance in the Yellow Spot bottlings? Looking to have my brother grab me one next month and just curious.

[Gillman]

No iteration I've had of Writer's Tears comes close to the Green Spot I opened today.

The same Green Spot is currently available at tasting counter at Summerhill on Yonge (I tried it today before my purchase). $1.50 for a half ounce, so $3.00 for a full one, well worth it. Not sure if you have access to that outlet but if you go tomorrow, you'll see!

Gary

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Since there is only 23.5 ounces in a 700ml bottle, and the bottle is $85. $3 is a great sample deal. Here in Oshawa no tasting towers....I will just dive in the deep end and grab a bottle.

[Gillman]

I'm sure it must be the same, they can't have brought very much in lately.

Gary

[Gillman]

On the issue of variance, Yellow Spot is much newer, so I don't think there has been much time for variance.

And of course, since these are small batch, limited releases, one expects variance and indeed it is a sign of authenticity. However, I did feel Green Spot dropped in quality for many years - but this current tasting wowed me and therefore I'd think it is back on song as the Brits say.

Gary

[WhiskyToWhiskey]

Picked it up, and poured some tonight....it is great stuff. I notice many similarities between Green Spot and Jameson Select Reserve. It's like Jameson used similar SPS casks and cut it with mature grain whiskey to make their Select Reserve blend.

[Gillman]

I fully agree (except I think the Jameson may have some older whiskey in there)! Those are my two favourite Irish whiskeys, period.

Gary

[tanstaafl2]

No doubt they did. Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Redbreast, Powers John's Lane and Legacy are all Middleton bottlings. I don't know if anyone else puts out a Single Pot Still Whiskey at the moment.

[DeanSheen]

I bought this last time it was available at the LCBO 3 years ago and I think I paid $100 for it.

I didn't find it worth it at that time but I would probably try it again at this price point.

[BigRich]

Gary, I couldn't agree more. Of the 15+ years I've been drinking Irish whiskey Green Spot is the most inconsisent I've had. The current interation is much improved over prior offerings but it still falls behind Redbreast for me and RB has been very consistent.

[Shuboy]

No doubt they did. Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Redbreast, Powers John's Lane and Legacy are all Middleton bottlings. I don't know if anyone else puts out a Single Pot Still Whiskey at the moment.

[tanstaafl2]

Not yet but new Irish distilleries are cropping up (one being set up by the Teelings who previously owned Cooley) that plan on doing Single Pot Still Whiskey to challenge Midleton's dominance. Also Finger Lakes just released what is probably the first single pot still whiskey to be made in the United States.

I look forward to the new distilleries but of course it will be a long time before any fully aged spirits will be available from distilleries opening now. Kilbeggan is probably closest to putting a full time spirit on the market with a reported timetable of 2014. Since they reopened in about 2007 it will be a fairly young whiskey still. West Cork is another that I am aware of that has opened recently. No doubt there are others as well.

Teeling has talked of opening a new distillery in Dublin and is currently doing several interesting sounding sourced whiskeys. But nothing seems likely to cross the pond anytime soon and having it shipped seems to be going up in price faster than the whiskey itself!

[MyOldKyDram]

Outside of the Spots, what other Irish Whiskey only available in and around Ireland could anyone recommend? My brother is there now and I have him out hunting for me. Thanks for any advice!

[Jono]

Middleton Very Rare

[BigRich]

Middleton Very Rare

Midleton Very Rare is available in the U.S. too.

[MyOldKyDram]

Even simply difficult to find suggestions are welcome too. Our Irish selection in KY seems fairly limited.

[squire]

The wee bit of Erin we get is limited as well.

[MyOldKyDram]

FYI I'm loathe to start new thread, so I just found the first Irish one and hijacked it. Please move if needed.

Any experience here w Connemara Peated CS, Greenore Single Grain, or Wild Geese Single Malt? These all sound intriguing enough for dif. Reasons.

[tanstaafl2]

FYI I'm loathe to start new thread, so I just found the first Irish one and hijacked it. Please move if needed.

Any experience here w Connemara Peated CS, Greenore Single Grain, or Wild Geese Single Malt? These all sound intriguing enough for dif. Reasons.

The Greenore 8yo is pretty mild but Greenore 15yo is quite lovely and becoming a favorite of mine (I have 3 bottles!). I have seen it in the US but it is rare now. There was also a Greenore 18yo from Cooley that I have never seen. I think Yellow Spot would be a great choice. It is in Canada I think but not the US. The Irishman has a limited release 12yo single malt available in Ireland but not the US I would love to try.

Poitin is now getting more popular. I have had Glendalough and thought it quite good in a Jacob's Ghost kind of way. Not new make but aged about a year. The Cooley Poitin is supposedly single pot still new make which sounds interesting.

I suggest also looking for the one or more Teeling whiskey that is now available. They got some mention in a recent Whisky Advocate blog post. As far as I know they aren't in the US yet. They also have a poitin. I think everything they do is sourced and/or stock they got from Cooley when they sold it. The 21yo Sauternes cask finished whiskey really interests me.

"Three samples were works in progress, and may never see the light of day, but the other three are set for release. They are a Premium Blend, which has a high malt content, and has been married in rum casks and bottled at 46% with no chill filtration; a beautiful and classic cask strength Irish single malt whiskey; and the oddest of the lot, a very unusual and groundbreaking cask strength 21 year old single malt finished in Sauternes wine casks, which will be the first release of a new series to be known as Vintage Reserve Single Malt."

[MyOldKyDram]

Can the Poitin stand alone or is it mostly good for mixing? The Teelings sound interesting as well. Thanks!

[tanstaafl2]

Can the Poitin stand alone or is it mostly good for mixing? The Teelings sound interesting as well. Thanks!

I thought the Glendalough was pretty good by itself and as I recall was not high proof, probably 80 proof. Some poitin is high proof and probably needs to be cut with water or used as a mixer unless you are trying to clear your sinuses! Then Glendalough is also a bit dfferent as it has some age on it. Not much, but some. But it can be drunk as is or as a mixer.