Happy Saint Patrick’s. No better way to celebrate than try one of these excellent old Irish Malts that appeared lately. Maltbarn recently released this Irish single malt 1989.
Irish malt 27 yo 1989 (45,5%, Maltbarn 2016, bourbon cask, 211 btl.)
Irish malt 27 yo 1989 (45,5%, Maltbarn 2016, bourbon cask, 211 btl.)Nose: just a hint of minerality up front, before it bursts into fruits. Nice acidity, it’s full of fresh pineapple and passion fruit. Unripe mango and banana. Citrus green tea and spearmint. Fresh oak shavings. Subtle leafy notes. One of the fresher, more obviously bourbon-matured versions. Excellent.
Mouth: a fruit explosion again. Tangerines, pineapples, mangos, whitecurrant… mixed with elderflower, lime leaf. Hints of grapefruit and waxy notes give it a Clynelishian touch. A little chlorophyll.
Finish: medium long, fruity.
A recipe that I’ve reviewed many times before: fairly low complexity, but a superb tropical fruitiness, very fresh and crisp. Just lovely. Around € 280, direct from Maltbarn or one of its importers.
Score: 92/100