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Мягкий, купажный ирландский pot still из бочек бурбона, хереса и марсалы: сладкий, фруктово-пряный, кремовый. Опытные ценят слоистое развитие и баланс, но многие считают завышенным по цене и уступающим Redbreast 15.
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В аромате доминирует плотная сладость от марсалы и хереса — сушёный инжир, изюм, чернослив, красные фрукты и виноград, восковые тропические и цветочные ноты, затем проступают кожа, табак и характерный «клеевой», зерновой оттенок ирландского pot still с корицей, гвоздикой, мускатным орехом и мягким, многогранным дубом. Вкус мягкий, кремовый и джемовый на входе — спелые красные фрукты, вишня, слива, ваниль, молочный шоколад, тоффи, — после чего нарастают дубовая сухость и перечная пряность с постепенным, чётко разделённым развитием стадий; послевкусие среднее, суховатое, с деревом, вишней и ментоловой свежестью, но у многих быстро угасает и коротковато для пятнадцати лет.
Опытные ревьюеры оценивают выше и хвалят композицию и баланс сладости, фруктовости и пряности, отмечая безупречное развитие вкуса, хотя один находит марсалу избыточной, а другой не понимает ажиотажа, раздражаясь зернистостью несоложёного ячменя (земля, горох, картофель). Среди остальных мнения ровнее, но резче критика: жидковатая текстура, горчинка и вяжущее завершение, простоватая и «громкая» хересность, упущенный шанс на более зрелый профиль. Сквозная и почти единодушная претензия — цена: многие предпочли бы Redbreast 15 либо Yellow/Blue Spot. Оценки сгруппированы плотно в районе 85–87 с редкими выпадами до 80–81 у тех, кому стиль не близок.
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Actually I planned to try the Red Spot 15 in a parallel tasting with the also 46% Redbreast 15. Now it has become a solo tasting, the comparison comes later. Just so much, from memory: The Redbreast 15 is a completely different caliber and due to the fact that the Red Spot 15 matured in a Marsala barrel, among others, a comparison probably does not make much sense. Will ultimately be a matter of taste. The Marsala cask clearly makes its contribution, and just ahead: too much. In the "Spot Series" he agrees well with the Green Spot and the Yellow Spot, the spots have always been a bit different.
| Нос |
88 |
A fat sweetness that flows towards you from the glass. But the Marsala barrel has done a great job. Dried figs and sweet raisins. At the beginning, only a little spicy, the sweetness initially overlaps all the other flavors. If he gets a bit of "rest", spices slowly come out of the background and have leather and tobacco notes in tow. Cinnamon, marjoram, cloves, nutmeg and pepper, tasty mixture, which now makes you want more. Now he looks more like a classic single pot still, which one could doubt something at the beginning. |
| Вкус |
88 |
Mild and very creamy onset - and while you still think what that is for a boring comrade, he shoots spices without end, with pepper forms a major component. Milk chocolate, toffee and vanilla. Cherries, raisins and fruit candy flavor. Mentholig and drifts at times towards children Em-Eukal, but the spices take something of the sweetness. |
| Финиш |
86 |
Medium long and dry with time. Cherry flavor and menthol, wood. Menthol thinner in the finish than he could probably be at the age of 15. |
Not really typical Irish for me. Could use a little more ABV, good drinkable, without question. Very sweet, which displaces the typical fruity something. Medium in the finish.
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
https://whiskeylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2025/05/21/darrens-do-april-2025-part-2-2/ C: I thought I must have had this before, but it turns out not. Not sure why. Is it price prohibitive [£121 at TWE]? Working straight out of the box, literally, this doesn’t seem prone to the ‘neck pour’ phenomenon. And it’s positively Irish, waxy floral tropical fruits the order of the day, who needs Clynelish? Seriously though, what about blending a little of this Red Spot into standard Clynelish 14yo, and a little dash of Caol Ila for the Brora effect? Floral vanilla to finish, I keep coming back to that sweetly rose-scented nose, all so skillfully put together – a combo of ex-bourbon, sherry butts, and marsala wine]. A solid start.
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
Indeed a tad better than the Yellow Spot, but not worth the disproportional surcharge.
| Нос |
88 |
Solvent / glue upfront, then the distinct pot still spice, which never fails to remind me of dry, "dusty" cereal. Soft, fruity, winey notes from the cask mix. Dried fruits. Nutmeg, cinnamon, perhaps. Lovely oak that never seems too fresh or spiky. Curiously, though this is older, it seems less heavy and weighty than its 12-year-old predecessor, Yellow Spot. If anything, the oak is more prominent and multifaceted, and the typical Irish glue note is stronger. Otherwise, the added age barely matters. |
| Вкус |
89 |
Wow, extremely mild, juicy, and jammy attack, full of sweet, ripe, almost non-acidic fruit and confectionary sweetness. Then the oak builds up, and the whole become progressively drier and spicier. I love me a good flavor development with clearly demarcated and distinct stages, and this one really delivers in that regard. Perfect balance between fortified-wine sweetness, fruitiness, and spiciness from the wood. Really well composed. |
| Финиш |
86 |
The 46 percent leave some room for (hypothetical) improvement, and the fruitiness could - also hypothetically - be more exuberant, but otherwise, it's a nice, mellow fade-out with absolutely no flaws or minus points. |
march 2021 i know that there is a broad fanbase of the colored spots in the whiskeycommunity. after trying the green and red, which where not truly mine, i thought that this one will make me go to the irish side. sadly it did not. i understand how this whiskey can be comforting for people who do not want anything in your face. but a decent speysider is much more satisfying for me. i dont know what it is, maybe the parts of unmalted barley which somehow irritate me. i dont think that this is a bad whiskey, but i just dont understand the hype about this. sorry :(
| Нос |
82 |
nutty sherry, the unmalted barley is present. earthy notes, peas and potatoes. sweet and sugary. although it is my third dram and i left it for about ten minuted in the glass the alcohol stings my nose a little bit. i get these grainy notes i mostly get from irish pot still stuff. |
| Вкус |
81 |
if there would be a color for this taste i would take green as in fresh cut grass, although this taste has nothing to do with fresh cut grass. it tastes a little bit like the smell of new ikea bookshelf. |
| Финиш |
80 |
finish is middle long but rather flat. disappears very quick. no long lasting film on your tongue or something like that. |
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 85
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Pretty good dram, but price-value rather weak - would probably prefer a bottle of Yellow or Blue Spot
| Нос |
87 |
(87,5) |
| Вкус |
87 |
(87,5) |
| Финиш |
86 |
|
Red Spot is the 15-year-old bottling from the Spot series. These are triple-distilled pot still whiskeys from the Midleton Distillery, distributed by the Irish wine and spirits merchant Mitchell & Son. The bottle states "non-chill filtered," but there is no indication of coloring. glen-efze.de
...is simply not my taste.
| Нос |
81 |
Restrained, wine gum |
| Вкус |
82 |
Slightly woody, adhesive note as one knows from bourbon whiskeys. |
| Финиш |
81 |
Woody |
S 7 A very balanced mix of cask maturation so nothing screams in any of the stages. Simply enjoyable. N 24 Buttery. Cardamom. Fresh orchard fruits. P 27 Rich red fruit jam. Pears. Buttery oak. Mellow peppercorn. Oak and tannin slowly surfacing. F 25 Mid, slightly dry finish. Again buttery oak. A whiff of fresh cut grass.
A classic example of first-class Irish whiskey, wonderfully fruity but also strong and complex.
| Нос |
86 |
Wonderfully fresh and fruity classic Irish whiskey, red fruits, grapes. |
| Вкус |
86 |
Flattering and pleasantly round, again fruity, apples, strawberries, raspberries, nicely spicy with cloves and allspice. |
| Финиш |
85 |
Nice long aftertaste, multi-dimensional and quite complex, very warming. |
нос 87 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
Was looking forward to the second 15 from the House of Midleton. Actually, he could only lose because the Redbreast's are in my eyes already a bank. But I'm positively surprised. Probably synonymous s.der slightly different barrel selection. Beautifully slightly spicy predominantly sweet malt. Due to the age a bit too expensive. Then rather the Redbreast 15.
| Нос |
88 |
Nice full sweetie. Some plums and raisins and fresh bread, leather. Everything is across the board. The seasoning is rather restrained and the sweetness is in the foreground. Then a lot of spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. Everything is round and harmonious. |
| Вкус |
86 |
Mild gentle start, the spices come through nicely. Chocolate and vanilla with cherries, raisins and everything nice fruity-sweet. |
| Финиш |
85 |
Medium long and dry with time. Slightly spicy oak, slightly refreshing with mint. But everything fades quickly. |
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
A balanced spiced whiskey. Full, fruity with notes of heavy wine. There is herbal liqueur at the end. Very good drink. Only the price tag is annoying. For me, the best of the spots.
Matured in bourbon, sherry, and Marsala barrels. Not chill-filtered. Color: amber. Nice whiskey, not as elegant as the Yellow Spot, but more delicious.
Quite thin and in my view not the most flavourful spot. Forward notes of cherry, red Apples, caramel, vanilla, creamy chocolate. The Marsala cask provides a pleasant touch of spice, nutmeg and cinnamon. A few drops of water brings out the fresh herb notes, combined with a cereal malt and spices, providing a distinctive character to this malt. Perhaps a touch on the expensive side and not being my favourite spot I will not be replacing this spot.
Tasted at Sherry Butt, Paris, 03/19.
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
| Нос |
80 |
Very bland nose, with very little going on. |
| Вкус |
85 |
Sweet, and fruity - yet the first thing that hits you is okay bitterness. |
| Финиш |
85 |
Medium-long finish, that leaves a pleasant mix of vanilla and sweet spices. |
An Irish dram for sherry heads; it’s not quite a sherry bomb but it’s not far off either. The sherry is clean and dry and there is nothing wrong with it, but it’s also quite simplistic, loud and boring. If you enjoy this style you can get it elsewhere. Overall I am left feeling this was a missed opportunity to present a more mature and complex whiskey such as one might expect given the age statement.
I understand why JJ likes Ireland. In low-degree situations, it is indeed much better than most Solvay without peat and Shirley.
German Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/_LjNS8nqh7c
| Нос |
84 |
Fruity, warm, and elegant – like a basket of ripe mangoes, apples, and red berries in a sun-drenched wooden room. Vanilla, honey, and a hint of spice rise up, accompanied by a fine, vinous depth. |
| Вкус |
86 |
Velvety, rich, and layered – like a golden stream of honey, tropical fruits, and red grapes flowing over a polished oak slab. Mango, apricot, berries, and a hint of spice mingle with creamy vanilla. The texture is round and radiant, like a warm glow through ruby-colored glass. |
| Финиш |
85 |
Long, warm, and fruity-spicy. Honey, red fruits, and a gentle hint of oak linger – like the last glowing notes of an evening in the vineyard. |
Eyes: Amber Nose: Very fruity smell, thin-skinned fruit, sweet peach, papaya. After the fruit flavor fades, cream and honey appear, followed by floral fragrances, probably orchids and jasmine. There are some grapefruit peels in the back section, carrying spices such as ginger and pepper, and some alcohol. 88 Palate: It starts with red berries, some cranberries and dried apricots. Then came the flower cake and Xuanxin cake, with a little bronze, and the woody atmosphere was not hidden. TWG tea bags, fried rice, black rice dew are always online, slightly milk chocolate, cinnamon cake, milk biscuit. 86 Body: Light wine body with high smoothness, more tannins, and lighter drinking power. 87 Finish: long, milk powder, biscuits, bronzes, sweet peach and other fruits 88 Nose: 87/100 Palate: 86/100 Finish: 88/100 Body: 88/100 Overall: 87/100
Blind tasted
| Нос |
88 |
Notes: red grapes, bubblegum, plums, sugar/demerara sweetness, floral, faint cereal/grainy funk, earthy soil, vanilla, oak Red grape comes first, with a brief hint of bubblegum passing through. There’s almost no alcohol prickle. Plum-forward fruit is clear, with a lightly “sugar-coated” sweetness. Floral notes show strong presence, and a fleeting grainy/cereal funk (slightly “raw grain” in character) brushes past. An earthy, damp-soil note appears alongside a very faint peatiness. With time in the glass, vanilla, oak, and a honeyed tone gradually rise. Overall projection is on the quieter side. |
| Вкус |
86 |
Notes: very light / watery texture, honey, plums, gentle sweetness, ginger, vanilla, floral, ashy tobacco, damp wood, slight bitterness and astringency It enters very light—almost watery in texture. A soft, diluted honey sweetness arrives first. Plum character follows with a slight tang, while a ginger-like spicy warmth lightly taps the tongue. As you roll it around, vanilla and a small lift of floral notes come up. A faint ashy/tobacco-ash peat note and oak appear, bringing a touch of bitterness and astringency. |
| Финиш |
84 |
Notes: damp earth, honey, wet wood, plums, nuts, faint peat, short length, bitter/astringent close Right after swallowing, the exhale carries a damp-earth aroma. The gentle honeyed sweetness from the palate lingers briefly. In the mouth, woody notes show up for a moment then fade, leaving mainly plum fruit. A lightly nutty tone and faint peat return, finishing on a slightly astringent, bitter edge. The overall finish is rather short. |
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
The smell is the best part. I'm still partial to Redbreast.
| Нос |
84 |
Typical sherry whiskey scent, reminds me a bit of Kavalan Triple Sherry. |
| Вкус |
85 |
Nice sherry notes on the tongue, sweet but not overly sweet, honey, and some dried fruit notes as well. |
| Финиш |
83 |
Medium finish, sweet in a good way. |
Nose: sweet pot still goodness mixed with cooked red fruit, apricot and buttered apple, cinnamon and candied mango, hints of lather and a slight red wine tannin here and there, on top of candy floss and leather. There’s also a slight nutty touch, and some mint that adds a freshness. Palate: A lot sweeter than the nose, with a nice sweet and fruity entry : ripe strawberry, cherries and apricots, with sweet Marsala wine, which is quit evident. Wood notes, pepper and more wine tannins, and fruit leather. Finish : Bitter and tannic with the wine notes, some more fruit and spice, and wood, dry towards the very end. Conclusion: A rather good whiskey indeed! the Marsala casks and sherry work well togerher creating a nice fruity whiskey, with quite some wood as well. Not cheap though at over 100 quid.
нос 85 · вкус 83 · финиш 82
Nice, a little bit un harmonious and too much woodiness BTW, this one takes just a little bit of water