With the 9 year Gold Spot edition first releasing in 2022 and being fairly well received across the board, there was a good bit of excitement in the whiskey community for a 13 year age statement bearing the same paint swath. The Spot Whiskey website describes this release, saying:
The latest addition to the Gold Spot’s series is a thirteen-year aged whiskey, once again championing the use of wine casks in whiskey, transcending tradition, and demonstrating the harmonization of heritage and innovation. The extraordinary expression marries Gold Spot’s established use of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, with a unique maturation in Valpolicella Riciotto Italian wine casks for 16 months. This final maturation elevates Gold Spot’s subtle spice notes, with the red wine adding layers of dark fruits, berry compote and creating a softly textured sweetness, finishing with a touch of oak and sweet wine. This special whiskey, the perfect balance between Irish whiskey and Italian wine, celebrates the exceptional story of seven generations of the Mitchell family, guardians of Spot Whiskey and one of Ireland’s premier wine families.
First released on March 11, 2024, in Europe via the Midleton website at €150, this left US-based Irish whiskey fans in the lurch for some time. Months later it finally began showing up on shelves here in the States, but pricing seemed to be all over the map, as if Pernod Ricard couldn't figure out what to price it at through different distributors. I saw discounted pre-sales as low as $180, and the OHLQ website currently has it listed for $300. Pricing seems to have settled somewhere around $215, though it remains sitting in stock, whereas the 9 year was commonly held for year-end raffles in 2022. Perhaps the price has something to do with that. We'll taste through to see if there's value to be had here nonetheless!
Company on Label: Midleton Distillery
Whiskey Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 100% malted and unmalted barley
Proof: 92°
Age: 13 years
Further identification: This is the 2024 Generations Edition of Gold Spot, hitting retail shelves across the globe in a 700mL bottle format at an MSRP of about $285
Nose: The nose leads with what some might call a more Scottish-style malt; light florality and apple aromas present quite delicately up front. Warming my glencairn in my hands unlocks Madagascar vanilla beans, fresh dryer sheets, and a hint of the wine cask influence to come. Deep inhales are a bit metallic, bland, and dry. I'm waiting for a bloom to occur, but all I get is the stark blank slate of a cold winter wind. The wine cask finishes are notably tamped down, buried, and muted here. Little changes after a sip of this utterly boring whiskey. The empty glass smells of wet granite, wool, and slivered almonds.
Palate: My first sip is a nice departure from the muted nose of the early glass. Light biscuit is fluffy and clean in the mouth as a pad of melted butter begins to seep through the nooks and crannies. The mouthfeel is great: oily, generally sweet, but quite devoid of any distinct flavor character. Another sip matches that, but with an incremental addition of subtle, dried jackfruit. Sipping late in the glass is the most enjoyable, as little flashes of cheesecake and your traditional Irish whiskey sugar cookie note can be found. My last sip finishes with little fanfare and no forlorn face for its departure.
TL;DR: Flat, bland, and boring—this release is a slap in the face to Irish whiskey fans
Rating: 2/5
Final thoughts: I don't normally talk about value here, but this is a pretty egregious mismatch between price and quality. In a neat demonstration that older is not always better, this is a very clear step down from the 9 year Gold Spot release, and at nearly double the cost, it has me baffled who this could possibly be marketed towards. I bought this bottle with my own hard-earned dollar and feel completely duped for that decision. If you're hunting for something better for cheaper, I'd recommend Redbreast 12 year, Green Spot, or peruse all of the top Irish whiskeys worth drinking for something that calls to you.
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