It’s that time of year again when everyone is proud to find their Irish roots — whether they have any or not. The cheesy, green beer is practically shoved down your throats and the colorful cocktails are flying off the bars, but nothing says it’s St. Patty’s day like Irish whiskey. With the big day right around the corner, I thought this would be a perfect time to “Do the Dew”. No, not that yellow stuff. I’m talking about the pride of Tullamore, the third largest town in the midlands of Ireland.
If I asked what the bestselling Irish whiskey in the world was, I’m sure most of us would correctly guess Jameson. But, could you guess the second bestselling and fastest-growing whiskey brand in the U.S. market? That’s right, it’s Tullamore and it’s for good reason. Founded in 1829, Tullamore Dew derives its name from the initials of its creator, Daniel E. Williams. Aged in bourbon and sherry casks, it’s got the three levels of easy: easy on the eyes, easy to drink and easy on the wallet. What more can you ask for? It’s because it’s so easy to drink and to-the-point in its flavor that many consider it the least Irish of the Irish whiskeys but that doesn’t take away from the most important fact: it tastes good. For a bit more complexity Tullamore offers several different ranges of whiskey including a 10-year-old single malt, a 10-year-old reserve and a 12-year-old special reserve.
- Appearance – A beautiful lightly golden and amber color.
- Aroma – A swirl of sweetness brought together by notes of oak, caramel, and lots of vanilla.
- Palate – Sweet and light-bodied. Very smooth and easy to drink. Creamy with notes of oak, spice, vanilla, and subtle notes of lemon.
- Grade – Good. Are there better Irish whiskeys to choose from? Sure. But, at a price of just under $20, it’s a great buy. I like this one for any home bar because it works well both on its own over ice and as a mixer. Its lighter body makes it a great introduction to Irish whiskeys for the lightweights and yet still offers some of the complex flavors that scream Ireland. Looking for something a bit more complex? I highly recommend the Tullamore Dew 10-year reserve.
Photo courtesy of TullamoreDew.com
