Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 Review

Earlier we took a look at the Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 3, now we're going next door and taking the Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 for a spin. And, spoiler alert, they couldn't be more different. It makes me really want to try the other four trees and see how they all net out side-by-side.

Speaking of side-by-sides. I had the great fortune to attend a birthday tasting put on by an amazing member of the SCWC at his home. He had several of us over to taste 4 different rounds of whiskey, pick our favorite of each round and then pick 3 to take on a desert island with us.

One of the rounds of that blind ended up being the Tree 3 and Tree 4 side-by-side. So a big thanks and Happy Birthday to Robert for then and making this Irish Whiskey review possible.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Irish Distillers has unveiled the next chapter in its Virgin Irish Oak Collection of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys; Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest edition. This exceptional offering has been finished in barrels made from Irish oak grown in the Bluebell Forest of Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny, imparting a true and unique flavour of Ireland.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Ireland

Distiller: Midleton
Mash Bill: Malted and Un-malted barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & Virgin Irish Oak
Age: NAS (13.5 years)
ABV: 56.2%

Tree: 4

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $300+

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 Review: Tasting Notes

NOSE
Apple pie, malt, bananas, baking spice, copper, brown sugar, golden raisins, dried cherries and bits of anise and passion fruit.

PALATE
Sticky toffee, roasted bananas, baking spice, copper, malt, char, cocoa, golden raisins, dried apples and a bit of anise.

FINISH
Med -> Malt, spice, toffee, dried fruit, cocoa and ashy char.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Excellent balance, full body and a warm oily feel that fades out dry and tannic.

Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 Review: Overall and Score

Aroma is elegant, bold and complex with heavy earthy/rustic tones playing against sweeter dessert/fruit profiles. The palate is the same but with a deeper delivery and the only downfall is the finish which I wish lasted longer.

Adding water to the Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Whiskey Tree 4 brings out a fuller aroma that's lead by bolder notes of Banana's Foster and copper and a palate that gets, even more, more earthy malty notes. Nothing changes with the finish.

When trying this in a blind tasting, put on by a long time member of the SCWC, this was my first pick of the night as my desert Island whiskeys. My other picks being sherry bombs. This a fantastic whiskey.

SCORE: 92/100 (A-)

A MASSIVE thank you and Happy Birthday to Robert for the sample.