Ireland 13 Year Old 2002 for Dram 4 ALS

ALS is the abbreviation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease for which there is currently no cure. To sponsor research, some friends bottle a single cask of whisky of which part of the proceeds are donated. There has already been a Clynelish and Old Pulteney, but this Irish whiskey was selected by The Nectar in 2015 and bottled for Dram4ALS. It is thus nice to know that it is already sold out.

Wonderfully fresh and fruity nose on white fruit, kiwi and banana. A single litchi. Lovely leaf of mint. Hardly any spices. Waxy. Truly fresh, reminding me of summer. With some water it becomes sweeter and gets a ‘green’ side, if you know what I mean.

Sturdy attack on more of the same, with the white fruit in the lead, followed immediately by a big chunk of marzipan. Then the banana and some white chocolate kick in. The mint and litchi are in there somewhere as well. It does not need water, despite the high ABV. But should you add a few drops, you will not be disappointed. Au contraire. It becomes a veritable fresh aperitif (despite a mild floral edge appearing).

Lovely long finish on more of the same with an uppercut of white pepper at the death.

Rather one dimensional (meaning that nose, palate and finish are all in the same league), but no less good for it. Very quaffable Irish, especially with some H2O.