Yellow Spot 12 Year Old

This is Yellow Spot, a 12 year old Irish single pot still whiskey from the Spot range, which the Mitchell family has kept going across seven generations. It is not simply finished in a particular cask. The whiskey spends the full 12 years maturing in three types of oak: American bourbon barrels, Spanish sherry butts and, unusually, Spanish Malaga casks. The Malaga casks add an exotic sweetness. The nose has red bell pepper, nutmeg, green tea and sweet peaches. On the palate come honey, cloves, baked apples, milk chocolate, coffee and creme brulee. The finish is dry and complex, with toasted oak, red grapes and barley.