Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey is a 12 year old version of the Green Spot which is mighty tasty on it’s own, but the extra age isn’t the only thing separating the Yellow from the Green. Like the Green Spot, Yellow Spot is aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. However, unlike the Green, Yellow Spot contains single pot still whiskey that was aged in Spanish Malaga wine casks.
This additional wine influence adds a bit of complexity and sweetness not found in it’s NAS counter part; giving it additional dimension and complexity. This whiskey has ties back to the original Yellow Spot of the 1960s which was supposedly also a sweet 12 year single pot still whiskey due to the inclusion of Malaga cask aged whiskey in that original recipe which is why they do it today. I don’t know if that’s just marketing malarky or not, but what I do know is that I’d love to try the original to find out!
Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey Review
Distiller: Midleton
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%
Mashbill: 100% Barley (malted & unmalted)
Price: $110
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Barley rich pot still character with notes of caramel, butterscotch, spice, dried fruit, wheat toast, almonds and vanilla. It’s really nice with a soft underlying sweetness.
PALATE
Barley rich and lightly coppered pot still combines with a sherry like sweetness and orchard fruit to create a lovely initial flavor that rolls across the palate. Hints of bananas, spice, citrus zest and toffee move lightly about.
FINISH
Fruit, barley and sweetness fade out to toasted bananas and wood on a long slow fade.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nice balance with a rich round body and creamy texture.
OVERALL
Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey is some very nice stuff indeed. Rich oily and sweet barley nose combined with a warm sweet and rustic palate riding a creamy texture makes for a great drinking experience. I fully enjoy this whiskey and wish I had a bottle not just a sample. The only thing keeping it out of the 90s is that it’s a wee bit heavy on the barley notes which dulls the complex just enough enough to keep it out. Regardless, its’ still very nice whiskey indeed.
SCORE: 89/100
