What they say

The Yellow Spot, name was derived from the Mitchell’s practice of marking their maturing casks of whiskey with a mark or daub of coloured paint to determine the age potential of the whiskey.  Blue Spot was a 8 year old, Green Spot  a 10yr and Yellow Spot a 12year old, Red Spot a 15. 

In time, all but Green Spot disappeared, with Yellow Spot last being seen on  whiskey shelves in the early 1960’s.

What I say

From Mitchell & Son’s ‘Spot’ range. Hailing from Midleton distillery under Jameson’s labels, these have gradually been reintroduced. This edition was reborn in 2012 after a 45 year absence when Yellow (and Green) spot were the last ‘bonded’ Irish Whiskey’s available. Mitchell & Son’s were a Dublin wine merchants who would source new make spirit and mature and bottle it themselves. This new Yellow Spot edition is matured in a mixture of casks including Bourbon, Sherry and Malaga (a fortified wine akin to sherry).

• ABV 46%
• Age 12 Years Old
• Bottler Official
• Bottling Yellow Spot
• Cask Bourbon, Sherry & Malaga cask
• Category Single pot still Irish whiskey
• Cost £70
• Origin Midleton Distillery
• Outturn undisclosed
• Region Ireland
• Released n/a
• Vintage undeclared

My tasting notes

• Appearance Amber gold (10/20), quick, medium tears and long, fine legs.
• Nose Fruity, stone fruits, peach, apricot, yellow plum, white grape, malted milk biscuits, dried fruit; raisin, honeydew melon and vanilla.
• Taste Medium-full bodied, grassy, zesty, oak wood spices, estery banana sweetness, white pepper, woody herbs, green apple, grape, melon, peach, honey, vanilla, later some peppermint and clove.
• Finish Medium-long, herbal and sweet with clove, peppermint, marzipan and pinapple.
• Overall Very much Pot still style, woody and spice driven familiar from unmalted barley. Plenty of yellow/stone fruits present in here despite the unusual cask combination used, I’d have expected something a little darker and drier like fruitcake, instead it is peached and cream.

Score 84/100