New Year, New Whiskey. ???

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Okay, we bring this old nugget of a topic up every so often and as it is the start of a new year I thought we might do it again as so much has happened in the last few years. So what are our whiskey aspirations for the coming year?

What do you expect to see happening this year? What are your expectations from the distilleries and what would you like to see in regards to innovation?

We have a strange set up currently ... Both Bushmills and Cooley seem to be with drawn from market in regards to new products and IDL and the Teeling Whiskey company are slinging out new products like good o.

What would you be excited to see and what do you think is stale.

I was very happy with a couple of the lower priced releases, Tullamore Phoenix and the Powers Signature Releases. However there were plenty other new releases too.

So what do we want to see this year fingers crossed, or just a wish list.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Well we've had a new Spot, Paddy, Powers and Redbreast in the past couple of years.

I really expect a Jameson SPS reserve to add to their range. It could be a 12 or 15. The only SPS we're missing from the usual ages is 18 year old. It would be great to see another similar to the classic 15.

I wouldn't be surprised if we got a 15 year old Spot. I think we expected a Red Spot last year but probably this year.

Could we get a cask strength Redbreast 15 or a 12 B1/14.

I do expect a very limited edition Midleton to commemorate the 30th anniversary. Remember the 20th.

I assume there'll be a few single casks for the DAA, TWE, LMdW or CWS.

As you said Beam/Suntory and Diageo aren't up to much innovation.

[DavidH]

As you said Beam/Suntory and Diageo aren't up to much innovation.

Let's give Suntory a chance, they haven't even signed the deal yet. What Beam did was so extreme I'm going to guess that Suntory will roll it back and let Noel Sweeney push out a small batch / single cask or two. They have plenty of stock ready to go, no reason we can't see that this year.

I hope to see Suntory put on a good show at Whisky Live this year too, with its Japanese, Scotch and other brands.

I'm also tipping a Crested Ten "50th Anniversary" edition this year, even though it's technically 51. Paddy's centenary was in 2012 if you believe the official website but that didn't stop them celebrating it in 2013.

[Luke Gough]

As you said Beam/Suntory and Diageo aren't up to much innovation.

Let's give Suntory a chance, they haven't even signed the deal yet. What Beam did was so extreme I'm going to guess that Suntory will roll it back and let Noel Sweeney push out a small batch / single cask or two. They have plenty of stock ready to go, no reason we can't see that this year.

I hope to see Suntory put on a good show at Whisky Live this year too, with its Japanese, Scotch and other brands.

I'm also tipping a Crested Ten "50th Anniversary" edition this year, even though it's technically 51. Paddy's centenary was in 2012 if you believe the official website but that didn't stop them celebrating it in 2013.

Here's hoping that Suntory's reputation for "Hands-Off" management is maintained.

[Luke Gough]

Just thinking; A fully-mature wine-finished cask-strength Connemara just might be what the Doctor ordered - is anyone out there listening?

[JohnM]

Something similar to the Celtic Cask Sé... One of the nicest whiskeys I've had in a long time. Can't afford it, though.

[IainB]

Rather than a variation on all the stuff that's been released already (Spots, Jamesons etc.) or something that doesn't exist yet (Bushmills SPS or the like) what I'd really like to see from existing stocks in Midleton -

A single grain - maybe even a single cask single grain, from whatever type of cask. Maybe a virgin oak single cask grain - like the most recent CWS bottling without the potstill.

A single cask SPS from something other than a bourbon cask - Madeira or Port would be amazing.

[JohnM]

A single cask SPS from something other than a bourbon cask - Madeira or Port would be amazing.

There's one of these available at www.whisky.fr at the moment...

[Fionnán]

trad pot SPS in a sherry cask (ie Jemmie 15 PPS). I said it last year and i'll say it again now (and possibly in print soon enough...) I dont care what they call it

[Raven]

I do expect a very limited edition Midleton to commemorate the 30th anniversary. Remember the 20th.

Probably the price would be that of a small apartment in Dublin considering the 20 year old is now 5,000 Euro

[IainB]

A single cask SPS from something other than a bourbon cask - Madeira or Port would be amazing.

There's one of these available at http://www.whisky.fr at the moment...

Hi John. Yes I saw that before - €300 though! That and I've never really been able to figure out how to order on that site.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

Hi John. Yes I saw that before - €300 though! That and I've never really been able to figure out how to order on that site.

Ring them, that is what I used to do or just do it by email and ring in you card details.

But yes these single cask prices have gone a bit haywire especially in T2 and all the T2 versions are mundane bourbon cask. Unfortunately I grew bored of those by 2010.

Something similar to the Celtic Cask Sé... One of the nicest whiskeys I've had in a long time. Can't afford it, though.

Must admit I really enjoyed the sample I got too. Very very nice so totally agree with you on that one.

My main gripe is that there are no decent whiskeys from IDL in the 35 euro bracket and I really don't want to be paying 35 euro + for "nice" blends marketed as premium whiskey.

Something like Writers Tears should not be costing more than 35euro in my opinion.

As echoed some different cask matured/ finished whiskeys from any source. And even a totally new Brand from IDL as that could give them total cart blanch.



Oh yea and a pleated SPS, probably looking to go a bridge too far on that one but why not dream

[IainB]

I've one more to add - the 43.2% NCF Powers gold label to be made available in Ireland - just opened one from thewhiskyexchange and it really adds something compared to the standard gold label. Just that extra little bit of powers spiciness.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

There could be a T1 soon enought too. I heard they have plans to put a whiskey shop in each terminal.

A new brand would be great too.

All interesting ideas. I hope at least one or two will come to the market.

[Luke Gough]

My main gripe is that there are no decent whiskeys from IDL in the 35 euro bracket and I really don't want to be paying 35 euro + for "nice" blends marketed as premium whiskey.

Hear, Hear!

That said, Teeling Small Batch Blend must surely get an honorable mention?

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I do expect a very limited edition Midleton to commemorate the 30th anniversary. Remember the 20th.

Probably the price would be that of a small apartment in Dublin considering the 20 year old is now 5,000 Euro

I expect this to go ahead. I remember being down in Midleton earlier this year and asking Brian Nation would this happen. He neither confirmed or denied it, not did the others from Midleton that day.

If they were the commemorate the 30th(Peril if it were a wedding) Anniversary, I'd expect it would be very expensive. It's very much like apartments in Dublin. Their both scarce and gaining in value, so this bottling will be even more limited than the 400 20th Anniversary bottles and more expensive.

I wonder would it be a blend like the previous?

They have their policy to release so many Pot Still per year but Midletons aren't SPS. The Single casks are, could this be?
What about a new Spot SPS.

I expect all will be revealed in time for Whisky Live. Anybody want to make some guesses before the event?

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Has anyone tried the Jamesons finished in Beer barrels yet? Were they tried at last Septembers tasting?

I assume they will be the new Jameson for this year. I still hope they reintroduce a Pot still some time. Anyone heard roumors?

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Pretty sure we are going to get a Midleton Pearl 30th Anniversary Edition, however no rumours have emerged yet.

Tried the Jameson Caskmates in the Bank Pub in Dublin and I quite enjoyed the take on the regular Jameson, coffee & chocolate notes as they say on the tin.

It was sold out within a week in the DAA, not sure if they are getting more.

As regards predictions we must be due a Blue Spot or Jameson PPS.
I presume we will only get a Midleton SC from the CWS
Cooley are reawakening with the Connemara 22, hope they do a Whiskey Live special themselves or in conjunction with the CWS.
Bushmills might stretch to a specially labelled bottle for their Whiskey Live debut.
The CWS have signalled the Seacht, ocht & Naoi.
Knappogue will probably have another finish.
Teeling are due to release a single malt.
The Blackwater distillery are due to announce a new release shortly, it could be a surprise Midleton give the close connections.

[JohnM]

Bushmills were at the first Whisky Live in Dublin but just had their regular range at a small stand.

When is the new Tullamore distillery opening? Wonder would they do a special bottling?

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

When is the new Tullamore distillery opening? Wonder would they do a special bottling?

There was a big event recently. Here's the thread viewtopic.php?f=37&t=2319

They had some new whiskeys for the tasting earlier this month but I didn't make it.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

New Midleton Whiskeys

So after a bit of digging, trawling & trolling I've unearthed a few more rumours:

Likely to see a Red Spot emerge very soon
Midleton 30th Anniversary Pearl looks set to arrive at a record price
Midleton Virgin Oak for the CWS expected for Christmas
Midleton Rum Cask for the CWS expected for Christmas, another first
Possibly one more SPS, maybe a special edition & still plumping for a Jameson SPS but could be wrong

Anyway lots to look forward to on the SPS front

[JohnM]

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/ec ... h-whiskey/

Not big news, but a change.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

I'd read somewhere that Dunvilles was getting rereleased. I hope there will be a resurgence of old brands. Wouldn't a Coleraine malt be a welcome return.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Kilbeggan have released a 21 year old. The bottle is similar to the Greenore ones. I was lucky to sample some of this in Cork recently. Very nice and sure to sell quick. I don't know what the retail price will be but I'm guessing around the €100-130 mark.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I'd read somewhere that Dunvilles was getting rereleased. I hope there will be a resurgence of old brands. Wouldn't a Coleraine malt be a welcome return.

Dunvilles is currently available

http://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/Dunvil ... page-1.htm

Yes nice to see old labels return just hope the Quality is there too. By the way I'm not questioning the quality of the above just a general statement and the hope that we get brands that are here to stay rather than a cheap nod to the past which eventually fail.