Writer’s Tears Cask Strength 2018

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More Irish!

Thank you to friends of mine who were at a tasting and obtained this sample for me. While this was given to me for free by the company, please be rest assured I’ve been blown by attractive hookers of many different genders and orientations in order to ensure that I give a fair and considerate review without bias.

At this point I’m basically leaving dust trails as I walk.

Writers Tears Cask Strength 2018 is last year’s release of the cask strength version. Limited in release, there was a time where this was the bell of the Dublin Airport. Now it’s a retired cosplayer who hit her head and thinks she’s Belle.

I’ve had a previous year’s Writer’s Tears Cask Strength and was enamoured. Not to mention I’m a sucker for cask strength Irish whiskey whenever I get the chance. So it’s a no brainer, right?

Well, different years produce different malts, so it’s a good idea to try out multiple vintages. Now that we have an excuse in the chamber, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: $178.60 CAD at the LCBO

Region: Ireland

Number of bottles: 5,175

Types of Casks: Ex-Bourbon

Abv: 53%

Colour: 2.5Y 8/10

Nose: Cereal, cinnamon, peach juice, banana, lemon soda

Starts out pretty typical for most Irish with that cereal. Grows with some heat and some stone fruit/banana notes. Water brings out a sweet lemon note.

Quite shy, even given the alcohol percentage. Not differing too much, but nice notes, nonetheless.

Taste: Banana, cereal, caramel, lemon, cinnamon, butter

Alright, we’re going for more of that deconstructed banana bread thing. Less funk than others. Nice mouthfeel though. I keep pushing it hoping for more. I get some butter, but that’s not really doing it.

Finish: Banana, cereal, orange zest, cinnamon

The finish has some zing to it? Frankly having the 2012 and some of the other Writer’s Tears offerings is not helping here.

That said, no really rough notes. So that’s something.

Conclusion: This year’s wasn’t as nice as before. I have enjoyed previous Writer’s Tears, liking the different aspects to it, that change of pace, and this doesn’t really seem to be doing much. It comes off as “we’re going to make this a stronger version for the nerds” and doesn’t really hit that.

All that said, it does have a lot of really nice notes. It’s easily tasty, not really harsh. You may enjoy it quite a bit, if you’re not a bitter dried up reviewer like myself. I kid of course. I’m still quite moist.

I wanted more from this. The 2012 was tropical, cake-y, herbal, and overall more complex. This was just nice. Here’s hoping next year’s is a return to the old style.

78/100

World Whiskey review #363, Ireland review #109, Whiskey review #1717