Blue Spot 7yo
Single Pot Still Irish | 58.7% ABV
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
Take your pot still taste foundation and ramp it up a few tasty levels.
This One Goes To Eleven
There’s something uniquely bold about a cask strength pot still Irish that you just can’t get from any other liquid.
When I decided it would be a cool idea to bring the Spot pot still Irish whiskey range to Dramface in a rough chronological release of reviews, I thought this Blue Spot release would be the last one on the list. Well, that’s until we'd have to delve into the delicious Green Spot finishes as a follow up to the Mitchell & Sons bottlings. Alas! There’s one final piece of the puzzle to the range. So hopefully one day we can bring that to you and wrap it up over at Spot corner here at Dramface.
Unfortunately, it might be a while until we have a review of the Gold Spot 9yo which was recently introduced to the market. Why? Due to Brexit, us folk here in Northern Ireland aren’t getting any shipped to suppliers. Maybe that’s a good thing seeing as it’s fetching north of £100. It would be very easy for me to flesh out the rest of this piece with more bashing on how the Irish whiskey industry continues with the ridiculous eye-gouging prices. But on to the topic at hand and the delicious Blue Spot pot still Irish. It’s the first cask strength within their core range and has a lovely 7-year-old age statement on the label.
As pot still Irish whiskies go, I’ve found that the older they are the better in terms of mouthfeel, weight, flavour, and a long, delicious finish. Taking a broad-brush stroke at the fact, most (if not all) of the pot still Irish whiskies I’ve tasted have been from the Midleton distillery in Co. Cork, no matter what brand has been brandished on to their coveted liquid. For me the pinnacle is the Redbreast 21 and a dram I don’t think I could ever do justice to in a review - nor know what I’m talking about most of the time when it comes to such a giant on the island of Ireland.
“As pot still Irish whiskies go, I’ve found that the older the better in terms of overall mouthfeel, weight, flavour, and a long, delicious finish.”
I have a similar idea and perception on Islay single malts, especially when they come in at a higher ABV. Islay malts that carry an age statement 18 years and above… they’re expensive. Almost like hen’s teeth, you rarely see any released, and the secondary market contains an over-inflated price. But from what I’ve heard, watched, and read from a lot of reviewers, enthusiasts and writers is that peated malts (specifically from Islay) do tend to lose that oomph of flavour they're known for as they spend more time in the cask. So when you pick up an Islay malt with an 8-10 year old age statement, it’s usually a flavour bomb that offers what is essentially the essence of taste from a malt from the island.
Think about that for a second. The age journey of an Islay malt, for example, tends to lean towards a large flavour and change of character the older it gets, and that huge peat hit the whisky lover appreciates and craves can really be found in single digit liquids. Now, let us switch the focus back to Irish whiskey, and pot still Irish. With the makeup of this whiskey being roughly 50% malted and 50% unmalted barley, you’ll begin to appreciate what this does in terms of mouthfeel and overall flavour. A few years ago I read about why the pot still recipe in Ireland is triple distilled. It was a method introduced since the mixture of malted and unmalted barley was first used for the outcome of overall yield and a distinct mellowing of flavour when passed through copper pot stills.
The character and essence of pot still Irish whiskey is quite bold: Bags of spice, raisins, nuts, and orchard fruits. In my experience the older a pot still whiskey becomes, the better overall experience I’ve had with it. On that, my perception and thoughts on this concept changed dramatically when pouring this particular 7yo. Like my shout out to the Islay malts, flavour change and a delicious experience can lay within the single age statement liquid, albeit if it’s produced and crafted correctly. Redbreast 12 and Green Spot are on the lower end of the age bracket in their respective core ranges, but the 40% just makes them a bit thin.
My enjoyment of Blue Spot might have something to do with the higher ABV, with more alcohol lending to more flavour. I’ll take that onboard. The whiskey that’s been presented to us here, is just bloody tasty! For lovers of that sublime and silky pot still Irish quality we’ve grown to appreciate and love are really going to like this one. So on to the dram at hand!
Review
Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish, 58.7% ABV
£80 with occasional availability
Like I said, this pot still Irish whiskey comes to us at 7 years old. It’s non-chill filtered and aged in ex-bourbon barrels, ex-sherry butts, and Madeira casks.
You can still find this online at some retailers, but unfortunately the majority seem to be sold out. If you do find a bottle, it’ll cost you between £77 – £85 which is steep. I’ve been on a tirade before on the costs of Irish whiskey and how inflated the entire industry is. Archie gave a very good overview on his Shortcross review.
Nose
Oats, wood staves and a little nutty: Roasted hazelnuts to be exact. So approachable given its ABV. Heaps of strawberry jam and a cold slice of apple pie too. There’s a smell in here that reminds me of rubbing blades of grass between your fingers, or if you’ve been labouring away at the gardening. Some unripened banana in there and a little kiwi. Spice for days, with touches of cinnamon but mostly nutmeg and ginger. Back portion of the nose brings out a little dusting of white pepper.
Palate
Initial sip brings toffee and caramel. Hazelnut chocolate spread on fluffy pancakes. The slow wave of the ABV introduces itself and it melts into a delicious butterscotch sauce. I’m getting a lovely warm crumble with bags of baked apple and blackberries in the mix. Here comes the spice from the nose alongside raisins and sliced apricot. More from the nose as a waft of pepper shows itself on the back end but then finishing strong with vanilla cream.
Mouthfeel is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It’s oily and viscous and a touch bitter on the back end. Fruity sweetness coats the tongue wonderfully and lasts throughout with that spice pot still Irish is known for. Once that mellows, you’re left with a nice cream and milk chocolate note.
The Dregs
Who’d have thought that a 7 year old single pot still Irish would bring such a flavour experience and wow us with the ABV? The new Gold Spot intrigues me greatly coming in at 9 years old. I’m very interested to see how those two years changes the whiskey not to mention the extra maturation in Bordeaux wine casks and port pipes. What’s for you won’t pass you by!
I really enjoyed this whiskey and I’d recommend picking up a bottle if you see it online or out in the wild. It’s a touch on the expensive side, but again this is just the Irish whiskey market’s excessive pricing that sadly doesn’t seem like it’s going to mellow any time soon. You’re still getting a brilliant experience and enjoyable dram with each pour so don’t worry on that front. To me, it’s the best of the Spot range and the ABV just gives it that little bit extra oomph that I’m sure many of you will absolutely love.
On the topic of young single pot stills, I’ve heard wonderful things about the single pot still releases from Dingle, Glendalough and Drumshanbo. All distilled and matured by their respective distilleries with promising reviews. Ones to keep an eye on as their stock matures over the years giving us a delightful pot still Irish experience away from the giants of Redbreast, Powers and the Spot Range.
Score: 7/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. HF
Archie’s Review
A bonus opinion
Score: 8/10
Something Special.
TL;DR
A cracking addition to the spot range.
Nose
Distinctly pot still but sweet and spicy. Sherry and sandalwood. Pineapple, mango and ripe red apples. Orange and lime zest. A defined nuttiness too - walnuts and macadamia. Ground ginger, nutmeg, liquorice and sticky toffee sauce. Water brings out a little more woodiness with cinnamon and vanilla.
Palate
This definitely does not drink like the ABV. A surprisingly soft and velvety arrival while still maintaining that lovely oily pot still texture. Milk chocolate and Oloroso sherry with stewed apples and fresh fruit salad followed by a wave of cracked black pepper, clove and fresh ginger heat. Lime juice, candied orange segments with a lovely nutty character and toasted oak rounding things off. Water brings caramel sauce with the oak and clove pushing to the fore. The finish is pretty long with some chilli milk chocolate and cracked walnuts.
The Dregs
A cracking addition to the Spot range, my favourite so far in fact… yes, it’s even better than the Whisky Exchange 26 year old which is basically just Marsala and wood. This however has plenty going on. It’s thick and oily texture wise with a great flavour development and time just seems to give more and more aromas and nuanced flavours with the Madeira element very well judged. In fact I was very fortunate to try the Madeira element on its own and it wasn’t particularly stunning or interesting but added into the mix here, it really imbued its citrus and walnut notes without overpowering proceedings.
Don’t let that 7 year old age statement put you off either, like it potentially did a customer in my local off-licence. He loved the 12 and 15 year old Spots but couldn’t see how a 7 year old, even at cask strength, could offer value or a better experience compared to the higher age statements. I let him know the youngest whiskey may well indeed be 7 years old but there were older whiskies in the vatting with the Madeira component actually being 20 years old. Age statement situation cleared up, he duly bought a bottle. Hopefully he enjoyed as much as I do. At £75 (now nearing £83 at my local retailer) a bottle it isn’t cheap, but in comparison to Red Spot it offers real value and is definitely worth a repeat purchase if you can find it, especially with the extra ABV allowing you to find your own sweet spot with a little water.
Score: 8/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. AG
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