Whiskey Reviews: The Whistler Trilogy Irish Whiskeys

This one has a lot of fruit going on, and it took a bit of time to figure out which elements were around, especially with all of the sherry going on. Initially found flavors of late summer blueberry mixed with golden raisin, and then a touch of those banana runt candy. Beyond that, a kiss of pepper in the finish. Score: 3/5 Tasting Notes: The Whistler Bee Keeper’s Select Irish Honey Vital Stats: 66 proof, 33% ABV. ~$30 per 750ml bottle; ex-bourbon matured Irish whiskey that’s infused with honey harvested from family orchards at the foot of the Hill of Tara in the Boyne Valley. Appearance: A light mix of yellow and orange. Nose: Big sweetness. A mix of caramel corn, honey, and graham cracker. Some may also find notes of cereal grains and creme brulee. Palate: Pretty straight forward with this. Medium bodied, honey, graham cracker, salted popcorn, long finish of smoked caramel. Score: 2/5 Tasting Notes: The Whistler Blender’s Select Irish Cream Vital Stats: Batch #1, 38 proof, 19% ABV. The whiskey utilized for this blend was from a single pot still. Appearance: Definitely looks like an Irish Cream liqueur or a dulce du leche. Full bodied and creamy. Nose: Butterscotch and milk chocolate with some baking spices. Palate: This liqueur covers the palate immediately, flooding you with accentuated flavors of butterscotch, vanilla, and cinnamon. The finish lingers with a bit of toffee. Score: 4/5 Final Thoughts on the Trilogy: This whiskey round up did not go as I had expected. I’m always wary of flavored whiskeys and whiskey based liqueurs. Guess you could say that I’m more of a purist. Both the double barrel and the honey lacked balance, with each erring towards the sweeter side of things. By my guess, too much sherry and then too much honey for the other. On the other hand, the Irish cream expression was unabashedly bold in a good way. I imagine that the use of local, natural ingredients and whiskey distilled from a single pot still may have been a factor. As a tasting experience, the statement is clear. Yes, this is an Irish cream liqueur. Try me and tell me I don’t know what’s up. As a whole, all of these selections would go quite well with coffee. However, each on their own, it depends on what you’re in the mood for.