Whiskey is spelled with the "e" when it's from Ireland, for reasons that may or may not be attributable to drunkenness by those developing naming conventions. This is single pot still whiskey, also known as pure pot still whiskey, which means it was fermented from a mash of a combination of malted and unmalted barley and then triple-distilled in copper pot stills. It's a process unique to Ireland that is making a comeback: there were only two brands (Redbreast and Green Spot) that, until a few years ago, bore the single pot still distinction, but now you can find ten or more different bottlings in this style.
This particular whiskey is 12 years old, matured primarily in bourbon casks with a little maturation in sherry casks (percentages/durations undisclosed). It's supposed to be reminiscent of how the whiskey from the original John's Lane distillery tasted, which the people making this whiskey apparently think the average consumer cares about.
Powers John's Lane 12 Year, 46% ABV
Single pot still Irish whiskey (Ireland)
Price range, 750 mL: $55-70
Nose: Honey and a floral fruitiness with some woody spices.
Palate: A nice, ripe fruit palate backed by a good dollop of alcoholic heat. Smooth mouthfeel.
Finish: More ripe fruit and a good amount of heat as it fades away. The aftertaste turns a little flat after a while.
Rating (of 100): 84. Fairly one-dimensional for a whiskey in this price range. Not sure what all the hype was about in the reviews when this came out. I'd rather have gotten two bottles of Glenmorangie 10 and saved a few bucks to boot.
Irish whiskey has yet to win my heart over scotch.
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