Mitchell and Son

Yellow Spot 12 Years Old

Yellow Spot 12 Years Old

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

Available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange

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