Of all of the whisky tasting notes we publish here on BEXSONN, seldom do we post tasting notes from the founding nation of whiskey – though not to say we haven’t posted a few before. Founded in 1887, by one Robert Mitchell, a gentleman of not inconsiderable business acumen, expanded the family bakery and confectionary business into whiskey bonding. The family first commenced retailing the venerable Green Spot whiskey in 1933 at which time one could purchase “John Jameson & Son 10 Year Old Green Seal. There was an insatiable demand for the consistently flavoursome Irish whiskey and the numerous Irish distilleries were at maximum capacity during these early years and what Mitchell & Sons brought to the whiskey market was something rather special. Inspired by the original Yellow Spot, this is a 12-year-old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, which is comprised of whiskey that has been aged in ex-bourbon, sherry and Malaga casks. However, in true tradition only a small quantity of Yellow Spot is bottled each year, for no apparent reason….
On the nose: you’ll be greeted by notes of peaches, pears, pineapple, strawberries, cream soda and a hint of lemon sherbet. These initial notes are closely followed by notes of cinnamon, mixed spices and bay leaf, alongside heather and lavender. Completing the nose are notes of butterscotch, sea salt, cracked black pepper, with a hint of bananas and coconut. On the palate: notes of poached pears, bananas and pineapple are ever-present, accompanied by cremé brûlée and lemon bonbons. Notes of peppery spices, cinnamon, star anise and cloves start to emerge, alongside toasted oats and butterscotch. Rounding-off the palate are notes of bay leaf, mint, honey, cocoa and a hint of tobacco. The finish: medium/long, sweet and spicy, with lingering orchard fruits and a hint of smoke.
The verdict: Yellow Spot was a dram that I didn’t have any preconceived perceptions about but it perhaps over delivered in every department. The nose is sweet, with flickers of complexity and the palate echoes much of the same depth in flavour, with a finish that is warmly welcomed – delivering a well-balanced and enjoyable dram. With an ABV of 46%, in my opinion, you don’t really need to add any water. However, if you require water then only add a small amount but to experience the plethora of notes on offer, I’d suggest leaving the dram to breathe for approximately 5 – 10 minutes before indulging. I’d also suggest letting the bottle get some oxygen for about the same period too.
Yellow Spot 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey can be found at any well-stocked whisky shop or online for approximately £70. For more information on this 12-year-old Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, visit the official Mitchell & Sons website.
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