Spoiler Alert:
My preference is Powers Gold Label. Read on to find out why I am going to be using it as my go-to going forward.

• First up we have Clontarf 1014. Named after the year the Irish defeated the Vikings in the battle of Clontarf.

  • This is a blend of pot still + grain whiskey, triple distilled and aged in bourbon barrels. At 40% ABV, it is on the lowest end of the allowable scale.

  • It surprised us how easy it was to drink neat. We picked up on notes of honey, brown sugar and apricot.

  • I have used Clontarf for years in my cocktails but because of it’s lower ABV I would often use a slightly heavier pour so it would stand up to competing flavors.

• Next is arguably the most popular of the bunch, Jameson.

  • The blend here is single pot still + grain whiskey, triple distilled and found at almost store that carries liquor. 40% ABV.

  • We picked up on notes of banana, and many of the same notes from the Clontarf but just much softer.

  • Because of it’s smooth and quite subtle flavor, we don’t see this as the ideal whiskey for mixing cocktails.

• Tullamore Dew

  • Still at 40% ABV however this one has a bit more of a bite to it. There is a sweet heat that doesn’t come through on the first two in this list.

  • Bigger honey flavor but still relatively simple.

• Powers Gold Label, the winner of the bunch. Powers was the first distillery to begin bottling their product themselves in-house.

  • Slightly higher ABV than the others at 43.2%. A blend of single pot still + grain.

  • Smells “darker” & richer with a bit of coffee notes.

  • On the palette it’s very complex, with buttery richness leading the way.

  • It is likely not a choice for sipping neat but because of it’s unique flavor profile it has the potential to work really well in a cocktail, standing out from competing flavors and modifiers.

• Last, our dark horse, Slane. Triple Casked, meaning it’s aged in three separate and unique barrels.

  • On the nose it’s more floral and bright than the others.

  • It tastes of bitter-sweet chocolate and you can tell it has influence from sherry cask. A bit of a funk on the tail end.

  • Unique when served neat but likely not the first choice for a cocktail spirit.