Whiskey Advise

The Drunken Destrier

I'm looking for help from somebody with more whiskey experience than me, any tips would be appreciated.

I'm buying my Scottish friend a 21st birthday present of Irish whiskey, and I want it to be something good (obviously) that would preferably be a bit difficult to get in Scotland. He's spoilt for single malt back home, so a pot still is also slightly preferable, but not essential. Just want to show off something in the Irish style. I've picked out 5 within my price range that all look like they'd be good 'fancy' gifts. Could someone tell me which would be best, or if I've missed a good one? I've only tried the Redbreast myself, which I love, but I'm aware the others could be better.

Redbreast 12
Green Spot
Tyrconnell Single Malt
Connemara Peated Single Malt
Writers Tears

Thanks!

irish_goat

They're all good options there. I'd prefer the Redbreast 12 or the Connemara personally. The Connemara is peated so a little more like a Scotch than the others but in saying that, your friend might like to see what a smokey Irish whiskey tastes like.

wexie

I bought a friend a bottle of Tullamore Dew Single Malt 10yo recently which was very well received.

Passenger

From all of the above, Green Spot goes down a treat with the Whiskey drinkers I know. I've even bought it as a gift in the past but might go with the Red Breast as a Christmas gift this year for both myself and others.

The Drunken Destrier

That's another issue I have, I'm afraid if I buy him Redbreast I'll be terribly jealous and want to buy one for myself. Then again, I think I might feel that way regardless.

Passenger

When you say Red Breast 12 do you mean the Cask Strength Single Pot Still or the Pure Pot Still as there's a €30 difference?

Personally I'd go with the Red Breast as the gift for your friend and treat yourself to the Green Spot if you have the spondulicks for both.

Slattsy

Yellow Spot.



Close thread.

Passenger

Slattsy wrote: »

Yellow Spot.



Close thread.

Yellow Spot wasn't on his list and is a bit more expensive tbf. Tis good though.

Slattsy

Passenger wrote: »

Yellow Spot wasn't on his list and is a bit more expensive tbf. Tis good though.

Sorry my bad. I didn't realise it had to be one from that list.

Well in that case I'd definitely go Yellow Spot.

(do it)

ferrigan101

As a Scotsman myself, I'd be very happy to get a bottle of Greenspot.

Only started drinking Irish whiskey properly in the last year or so but love a drop of this.

pa990

All excellent choices

You can't go wrong with any of them

cHaTbOx

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

Redbreast 12
Green Spot
Tyrconnell Single Malt
Connemara Peated Single Malt
Writers Tears

Thanks!

Really down to taste there at the end of the day , would personally go for the green spot but I like redbreast .

Morf

Slightly more expensive than the Redbreast 12 but Powers John's Lane is a smashing whiskey. Single pot still too.

The Drunken Destrier

Passenger wrote: »

When you say Red Breast 12 do you mean the Cask Strength Single Pot Still or the Pure Pot Still as there's a €30 difference?

The Pure Pot Still, should have specified. I think my limit is around €60, willing to stretch a tenner or two if it means a serious step up in quality. And if I have the bucks around Christmas I'm definitely getting one of the bottles for myself. It's been on my mind too long now not to get any!

buck65

Glad to see Writers Tears there. A fantastic indie whiskey. That would be my choice as it isn't found everywhere.
Also the man that said Powers John's Lane was onto something!

All good choices though. We have a few fantastic whiskeys on this island.

twerg_85

I'd go the Powers' John Lane, followed by Redbreast 12.

Perosnally, I think Green spot is meh. Yellow spot was nicer, but Powers is cheaper (and tastier in my opinion).

F.

buck65

No doubt Green Spot can't live with Redbreast 12 or Powers John's Lane but is a decent whskey all the same. Personally I remember when it was maybe a fiver a bottle dearer than the Jamesons of this world now it's 20 euro more!
Definitely overpriced now. I have a Redbreast 12 Cask Strength on the way.

Slattsy

I'd be the opposite to ye there lads.
I'd have Green Spot over Redbreast.

Although i've yet to try the John Lane.

Brockagh

buck65 wrote: »

No doubt Green Spot can't live with Redbreast 12 or Powers John's Lane but is a decent whskey all the same. Personally I remember when it was maybe a fiver a bottle dearer than the Jamesons of this world now it's 20 euro more!
Definitely overpriced now. I have a Redbreast 12 Cask Strength on the way.

I wouldn't say Green Spot can't live with Redbreast 12. It's a matter of taste. Personally, I prefer the Green Spot.

There was a blind tasting for the Irish whiskey awards recently. My top three were Green Spot, Redbreast 15 and Yellow Spot. Before that, I would have thought Powers John's Lane was my favourite, but it was the first one I eliminated. Again, it's just my personal taste.

The Drunken Destrier

Thanks for the help everyone, I eventually bought the Green Spot. Has the right combination of being a single pot still, hard-ish to get outside the country, highly rated (by most) and under €50(!). Yellow Spot and John's Lane were also very nicely priced, but for my buddy who's no whiskey connoisseur they were a bit out of budget. After seeing them though, I'm definitely gonna pick up a bottle once all the Christmas shopping's done.
Thanks all!

Ps. Anyone try the Teeling Whiskey to know if it's any good?

Brockagh

The Teeling whiskeys are pretty good. A good few different ones. The 21-year-old is very good.

Moonbeam

I don't drink whisky but the husband does and from that list definitely Greenspot.

irish_goat

The Drunken Destrier wrote: »

Ps. Anyone try the Teeling Whiskey to know if it's any good?

The rum cask Teeling is very nice and a bit different from most other Irish whiskeys, which normally are aged in sherry or bourbon casks.

Brockagh

The Teeling's stock is also very interesting. The 11 yr old and 21 yr old stuff they have is not from Cooley, but an experiment from another famous distillery.

MilanPan!c

Passenger wrote: »

From all of the above, Green Spot goes down a treat with the Whiskey drinkers I know.

I love Irish whiskey and have had a LOT of it and I second this opinion.

gandalf

Out of your list I would go with Redbreast or Writers Tears both excellent. The others are good as well but those would be the ones I love the most. I'd look at the Connemara Cask Strenght if you can find it below €60, its lovely!

crockholm

Yellow spot,John lane,Green spot,but another whiskey I'm a bit fond of at the minute is the greenore,not too pricey ,though there would be nowt wrong with a bottle of Powers as a present either.

Enjoy your voyage into the World of whiskey.

[-0-]

If you can afford it get them Redbreast 15 year old. It's amazing.

limnam

Green spot is currently way over priced IMO. It's a nice drop at 30-35e a bottle but currently it's around 50e

Yellow spot and johns lane for my taste are very close but Johns lane is 10-15euro cheaper.

So for best bang for buck I would go with Johns lane

buck65

Greenore is an excellent whiskey.

gandalf

buck65 wrote: »

Greenore is an excellent whiskey.

I can't stand it. I think it has a very metallic taste but I generally don't like grain whiskey anyway.

crockholm

There's also a limited edition TD out at the moment-Phoenix,got it in Dublin Airport, @ 55% she's strong and costs only about 50 yo.Good for a collection if it's not your thing.

Geuze

Superquinn have 20% off "premium" whiskey at the moment.

http://content.yudu.com/A2jdrm/SQ18A2013/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.superquinn.ie%2Faspx%2FContent.aspx%3Fid%3D866

Morf

Geuze wrote: »

Superquinn have 20% off "premium" whiskey at the moment.

http://content.yudu.com/A2jdrm/SQ18A2013/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.superquinn.ie%2Faspx%2FContent.aspx%3Fid%3D866

Last time I was in Superquinn they weren't stocking any of these "premium whiskeys".

lord lucan

gandalf wrote: »

I can't stand it. I think it has a very metallic taste but I generally don't like grain whiskey anyway.

You should give Teelings new Single Grain a go,it's very tasty. It's been matured in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon casks and the fruity notes are very strong as you'd imagine. It'd make a great entry level whiskey for someone with no particular interest in Irish Whiskey.

Personally i'm more of a Pot Still fan,Powers Johns Lane being the best of the bunch imo. The new Powers Signature Release is excellent too given it's only around the 6 year old mark. Hasn't got the big spicy notes that the Johns Lane has but it's very smooth and has a lovely finish.