12-05 Bushmills

Bushmills

21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

40% ABV

👁: Copper with ruddy tones around the edges, verging on russet. Medium thick prominent legs recede slowly hinting at rich and complex flavor.

👃: Very honey-forward, with caramel and maple syrup. Old leather and parchment, like a forgotten attic filled with antique books and faded photographs. Vanilla and peat. Grassy. Dark chocolate with a hint of sherry. Like Willy Wonka's office after he's just returned from the chocolate river. Just a hint of aniseed or tarragon.

👅: Very bitter. White pepper and cloves. Strong mineral flavor, like graphite with a hint of sulfur. Bitter grapefruit with dark brown sugar. Viscous sherry wine with a hint of very old oak.

🏁: Rosewater perfume or potpourri. Very floral. Medium long finish filled with bitter mineral notes and a peppery rye. Reminiscent of espresso beans.

The nose is like a time capsule in a glass, capturing the essence of a bygone era. One of the best I could imagine. The palate leaves a little to be desired, and the finish while not unpleasant was very lacking. This is really hurt by it's low octane, even more so than 12-01 The Dalmore and 12-02 Hibiki Suntory Whisky. For a bottle north of $300, this is a disappointment. Or maybe I just have a peasants palate.

#irish #whiskey #singlemalt