Blue Spot 07-year-old

Heavy Irish Trio, 31May2025: Blue Spot 7yo CS (2024) https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/267727/blue-spot-07-year-old 85+ An Irish 10yo CA 2006 https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/137085/an-irish-distillery-2006-ca 87- Enigma 10yo CA https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/270501/single-malt-irish-whiskey-10-year-old-ca 87+

Heavy Distillates, 06Mar2025: Lock Lomond 14yo OB https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/257625/loch-lomond-14-year-old 85+ Magilligan 8yo https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/14289/magilligan-08-year-old 86- An Irish Distillery 10yo CA 2006 https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/137085/an-irish-distillery-2006-ca 86+ Blue Spot 7yo CS (2024) https://www.whiskeybase.com/whiskies/whiskey/267727/blue-spot-07-year-old 85+

Another very fine bottling from Blue Spot. This 2024 is a bit less fruity than the 2021. And I find it a bit spicier, especially in the flavor and finish. (Perhaps less so when I compare them side by side.)

Pleasant, but only when diluted to the right degree. A little too harsh and spicy when pure.

Mitchell's practice of marking casks with a daub of colored paint gave Blue Spot its name, and some say it is the best value in Irish whiskey. A bit shy a first, the nose reveals orchard fruits, butter cookies and hints of banana. Barley sugar, allspice and hazelnuts appear, but it needs water to open up. The intense and juicy-sweet arrival is led by ripe pears, pineapple and mango before dry pot still spices start to shine through. Red berries, spearmint and resinous oak fade in the slightly sharp finish. Does it live up to the hype? Well almost, but I find it rather feisty. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Of all the spots, this was a bottle I sought after given it's the only "cask strength" unless you pick some other limited edition. I'm not disappointed, but I wasn't impressed either. For the age there isn't too much youth or malty-ness, but overall it is at times a bit "rough around the edges". N: Overall it's quite nutty, you can definitely feel the Madeira, dark honey, some leather, then the typical sherry spiciness comes up. P: starts a little hot, but develops relatively in line with the nose, the nutty is still there, now the wine-y sherry and madeira trade blows between sweetness alternating with lots of spices, dried fruits, sultana, cloves, figs, spirit cherries. F: it's still a bit hot, again lots of spices, the finish is long, leathery, cooked red fruits. This one however takes water quite well. Adding it softens the nose, it goes less "red" and tames the hotness; dried apricots come out with a little hint of kumquat alongside the persistent nuttiness; the same again happens on the palate, dried mango and apricots, it goes more "yellow", probably the water makes the bourbon side of things to come out more, albeit the sweetness gets replaced with some significant astringency. However even with water the hotness at the finale still comes out a bit even tho it's more contained, but it's still there. Overall if you come up to Dublin's airport (or order it directly from Mitchell's website), it's a nice pick, albeit for the price, we are already in Scotch IB single casks that have at least two digits in aging.. or, remaining in Irish products, I'd pick a Redbreast 12 CS instead of this.

First of... Irish is not my favourite tipple. I've had some Green, Yellow and Red spots... not enjoyed any too eagerly, but neither had to call a doctor. Actually never heard of the Blue Spot, so thanks to Slàinte Mhath for this sample. Have to admit, at least the Blue Spot is better than measles, but I'm pretty sure my health insurance will not cover the injury of €100 for a bottle.

With its fifth edition, it continues where it left off the following year and deserves nothing but praise and recognition for being able to boast so much character and balance despite being only seven years old. When its 2023 predecessor was coming to an end in my bar in October last year, I bottled a small sample for a direct comparison. The differences are quite clear, the 2024 is more bitter and less fruity, but spicier than the 2023. And the nose of the 2023 is simply unsurpassed.

It tastes good. It has the usual trend of Middleton. The current market price is slightly higher than the quality. Just try it.

A delicious, robust whiskey, flavorful enough to always have on my shelf, it doesn't feel young for its age.

Potstill spices, sweet Madeira oak, a hint of coconut, yellow fruits, pastry, honey, cacao, peppers. Medium finish, the 58.4% abv is integrated allright.

A delicious, robust whiskey, flavorful enough to always have on my shelf, it doesn't feel young for its age.

Great cask strength irish whiskey.

Rocket fule, keep rolling in your mouth. Each roll will unwrap a new layer of complexity. Finish is long and complex, which lingers on and on with amazing balance from all three stages of production.

Matured in Bourbon barrels, Sherry Butt, and Madeira, not chill-filtered, cask strength. Color: amber A truly beautiful whiskey, which should be left to settle in the glass for a few minutes. Compared to the Green Spot aged in Chateau Leoville Barton, the red wine here is more integrated and creates an overall darker profile.

Great Irish whiskey, but just not at the same level as the prior edition of Blue Spot. Still very tasty, although it comes across a bit rawer and younger than the 2023 Blue Spot. Worth getting if found at a fair price, but not worth hunting for anymore imo.

A youthful Irish pot-still whiskey with appealing texture and fruit, but an assertive alcohol presence that initially dominates the experience. Time in the glass and several spoonfuls of water make it noticeably more approachable, allowing the fruit and creamy pot-still character to emerge. Nevertheless, the youthful intensity prevents it from becoming a favourite Spot.

Blue Spot 07yo Cask Strength 2023 and 2024 in direct comparison: Compared to the outstanding 2023, the Blue Spot 2024 has less sweetness and creaminess and more spiciness. It is more impetuous, less balanced and less drinkable. Still a top pot still whiskey whose high ABV is never unpleasantly noticeable and which does not need to be diluted or should not be. But I like the 2024 less than its immediate predecessor. Blue Spot 07yo CS 2023: 90 points Blue Spot 07yo CS 2024: 88- points

Creamy nose, butter cake, ripe apples, muesli, almond, candy sugar, rye spiciness, candy. Flavored popcorn, mocha, orange and mandarin, slightly peppery, salt & caramel, redband wine gums and pear. Finish on bubble gum, cinnamon and slightly bitter.

Multiple casks...Sherry, Bourbon and Madeira. But obviously chosen with care. Because, at cask strength it approaches a single cask output. Name any fruit. Pineapple, lime, apple, banana. Hint of spice. Vanilla, cinnamon. Review amended. It seems there are two 7 year Blue Spots....58.2% and 58.4%. Aha.