Whiskey Review: The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Irish Whiskey

Very fruity, apricot, banana, malty sweetness, slight amount of bitter orange peel and cinnamon. Finish: Surprising amount of spice towards the finish, mostly clove and allspice with a hint of cinnamon. Medium to light burn which fades nicely, if a little quickly. Conclusion: I generally try to taste any whiskey on its own merits and do my very best to avoid drawing comparisons, even between label mates. That being said, the comparison between this 8-year single malt and its younger, blended sibling is crying out to be made. In a word, the difference is significant. There is quite a lot more going on in the 8-year-old version of The Quiet Man. The flavors and aromas provide much more of a punch, from the oaky nose to the apricot-heavy palate to the spicy finish. It would be a mistake to assume this whiskey is a mere variation on a theme. There is a complexity here which is interesting, while the dram maintains a friendliness and general approachability I have come to expect from the vast majority of Irish whiskies. FINAL SCORE: 80/100