Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
"Original"
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$35-40 (sample provided)
Color: gold
Smell: equal parts honey and peat for me. It smells like it's going to be soft and smooth...very approachable on the nose. Definitely smells like it's going to come in on the sweeter side.
Taste: less driven by sweetness than you'd think from smelling it. Some honey on the entry, but gentle peat smoke quickly comes into the picture. This is nowhere close to as dialed up as an Islay Scotch in the peat department- it's not oily or resinous or overly iodine-like. It's more just a gentle smokiness that complements the subtle grain sweetness. The finish is medium-length, featuring the same mixture of sweet and smoke.Overall: this is good but basic stuff, a solid "B" for me. It's held back a bit by its simple delivery - there's not a huge depth of flavors to ponder. But as far as an everyday sipper, it's an excellent choice and a good value. I'm pretty sure it's a one-of-a-kind in that it's a peated Irish whiskey, and the mellow approachability of Irish whiskey is successfully complemented by the wisp of peat smokiness. If you've never had Scotch proper, this might be a good set of training wheels.
