By Andrew Graham
Score: B+
Bushmills Uncommon Cask 29 Yr Outdated PX Sherry Completed Irish Whiskey
(Credit score: Bushmills)
Bushmills launched the second installment of its famend Uncommon Cask collection in Could, almost 20 months after the inaugural Uncommon Cask expression was launched in October of 2020.
It’s price evaluating the specs on this expression with these of the primary Uncommon Cask installment. Whereas the primary Uncommon Cask launch was a 28 12 months outdated expression that spent 11 years maturing in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and bourbon barrels earlier than marrying and having a secondary maturation of 17 extra years in Cognac casks, the latest installment was distilled in 1992, put into ex-bourbon barrels, and re-casked in 2004 in ex-Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.
This bourbon-to-sherry getting older sequence is extra acquainted than what Bushmills put out for the 2020 launch. This 12 months’s installment can also be larger proof, 53% ABV in comparison with 46.7% in 2020, and costlier ($900 and up vs. $500 MSRP). Each are constituted of 100% Irish malted barley.
The Whiskey
The 2022 Uncommon Cask installment has a placing caramel brown coloration and its aroma fills a small room from the glass. On the nostril, I discovered notes of candy cream, mascarpone, and caramel, like when you put a complete Frappuccino in a blender and carried it into the foyer of a toffee manufacturing unit. There’s a little bit of orange peel and sourdough to it, too. This description most likely makes it out to be sweeter-smelling than it truly is—the notes are extra wealthy and filling than they’re candy. This smells like one thing you’d need to bake.
On the palate, I obtained taste notes of stone fruit, white pepper, oak, hints of tobacco and leather-based — and a fairly sizable dose of menthol. The end is lasting and substantial.
In my 2020 evaluate of the primary Uncommon Cask installment, I known as that effort “a dizzying and phenomenal dram.” It had a ton happening flavors-wise and was extremely balanced. This one doesn’t fairly duplicate that effort. It’s nonetheless nice to drink, with a placing nostril and heat, lasting end. It’d go nice with (or as) dessert. However I discovered the mint taste notice to be a bit distracting and misplaced—for me, it didn’t add something to the dram.
I suppose that exact taste my palate registered may very well be attributable to the excessive proofing, however I typically discover expressions on the decrease finish of the ABV spectrum to style overly watered down. Maybe including a splash of water to this expression, which I don’t ordinarily do, would have put these menthol notes on the backburner or elevated extra of what’s on this whiskey’s unbelievable nostril.
The Value
Formally, this could fetch $500. Nonetheless, some on-line retailers have it marked up all the best way to $1,700, so purchaser beware.
