The Whisky Mercenary Irish Single Malt 23 Year Old 1991 for Single Malt Whisky Shop

Jurgen Vromans - aka The Whisky Mercenary – was able to get hold of a cask of peated Irish whiskey and bottled it for a Flemish and Dutch whisky shop. They each got their own label. I was told that the spirit was distilled at Bushmills, who indeed experimented with peat in 1991. Let us get to it!

While the peat is clearly present with earthy notes, among others, it is mostly the fruit that captured your nostrils’ attention. It is almost exotic! Banana, pineapple, lime, grapefruit and passion fruit. These last two become quite big. Nicely creamy, almost syrupy on the nose. Leaf of mint. Very attractive indeed! Reminds me somewhat of the Ireland 1991 that was bottled last year by The Nectar. This one is just a tad more fruity.

On the palate it is equally syrupy. I again get banana, passion fruit and grapefruit, but also peach in its own juices. Pineapple from a tin can. Slowly but surely it turns a tad bitter and dry as the peat starts to put its foot down. The mint lingers. Add some nutmeg and pepper. Very interesting and quite complex.

The finish is long and a touch piquant.

Absolutly stunning whiskey, but we knew this going in. My only point of criticism is the pice. 199 EUR for a 23 Year Old Irish is quite expensive, no matter how good.