Powers John's Lane 12 Year Old Single Pot Still

I've come to enjoy the taste of pot still Irish quite a lot but it's not something I often turn to. I really should rectify that as, whilst I don't always find them to be completely absorbing, they are always very drinkable and enjoyable. So how does this bottling of Midleton distillate fare . . .

Bottle is about half full and been open a few months now. Review is from a 35 ml neat pour that's sat for about 30 minutes.

Nose - Creamy and buttery with toffee and honeycomb. Fruity - dried apricots and sultanas. Rye like spices of clove, pepper and cinnamon with a touch of baker's ginger as well as a prominent varnish note Some old leather and fresh oak. Very appealing and with some complexity, but that slight alcoholic twang is a little to its detriment - shame.

Taste - Lovely creamy mouthfeel with hints of linseed oil and that pot still, metallic barley note. Sweet with some tart fruits but then the spices really attack the tongue - pepper and cinnamon mainly. That varnish note lingers.

Finish - Medium - long with buttery spiced biscuits and drying oak. A little bitterness.

I've tried this with water and it does tame the 'nip' a little but it then loses some of the creamy mouthfeel that is perhaps this whiskeys best feature.

I've been really patient with this and have kept faith that air will help settle it down but it just hasn't really happened. It has improved some though - time in the glass helps, and in fairness, once your half way through, or better yet, onto a second it isn't as noticeable. Still, I am enjoying this and it's a decent representative of this style of whiskey. It's also very easy to drink - once you get going.

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