Powers John's Lane Irish Whiskey

12 Yrs Old      Non-chill filtered     46% ABV

VA ABC - $69.99

Total Wine - $71.99

From the Total Wine website: “Matured mainly in bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry butts. An abundance of earthy aromas, leather, tobacco layers of charred wood, dark chocolate and treacle toffee. Long, smooth finish. Best Irish Whiskey in 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.”

Powers is one of my favorite Irish whiskies.  Their entire lineup is reliably good.  John’s Lane is even more exceptional.  When I was traveling to Ireland regularly, I would often buy a bottle of John’s Lane or Gold Label.  

Located in County Cork, Ireland, Powers is part of the Midleton Distillery stable.  Midleton also makes Jameson, Paddy’s, Redbreast, Midleton, and ‘The Spots’ (Green Spot, Yellow Spot etc).  If you can get any of those whiskies on sale, you’ve got excellent value for your dollar.  

John’s Lane is not a ‘blend’.  It does not include any distillate from column stills.  Rather, they combine whiskey from two different pot still runs.  Most of the whiskey in a John’s Lane bottle is aged in new, first-use American oak for twelve years.  A part of the rest has been matured in Oloroso sherry butts.  They combine the two for a whiskey that’s bursting with flavor and character.  

Tasting notes from the John’s Lane website:

Nose - Woodland aromas and dried tobacco along with treacle toffee, black peppercorns and dried herbs.

Taste - Rich pot still spice with vanilla, manuka honey and dried apricot.

Finish - Toasted oak wrapped with honey sweetness.