Irish Single Malt Whiskey – 1989/2015 – 26yo – 47.2 % – Whisky-Fassle

Nose : We’re in the major Irish aromatic fields. Behind a dash of honey, we’re into exoticism: majority mango, pineapple, guava and coconut. There is a hint of smoke and a herbaceous component (cut grass, hay). We also have a bit of quince jelly, pomegranate and a few spices (nutmeg, cumin). It is also woodier with the opening. An excellent nose, gourmet, that stays on fructose and gains complexity with drier notes. Water allow to gain a bit of freshness (dill weed).

Mouth : It is a segmented dram to say the least. The fruit left on vacation, or almost: the guava and quince resist. Then, we’re on less dessert notes with malt and spices once again (nutmeg, cinnamon) before drifting towards wood. A mouth (lightly) fruity and dry. A combo that works on the first part of the mouth, less afterwards. Adding water reinforces the guava and passion fruit but keeps this dry tendency, at a higher level.

Finish : The fruitiness returns on this rather long finish. We’re once again on mango, guava and a bit of passion fruit. However, the woodiness is striking enough to calm this sweetness revival. The aftertaste pleasantly finds back quince jelly.