Tullamore D.E.W. Blended Irish Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

I get excited when I have opportunities to taste very affordable whiskeys. Years ago, I started a #RespectTheBottomShelf campaign. The idea was to find gems that would fall under the radar of folks more interested in the hyped whiskey du jour. It has been a successful campaign; I’ve discovered delicious Bourbon, Rye, Irish Whiskey, and Scotch that fit the bill.

 

When I first delved into Irish whiskey, I had an opportunity to try Tullamore D.E.W., and to be blunt, I wasn’t a fan. I couldn’t put my finger on what I found unappealing and left it alone until recently. Part of the #DrinkCurious lifestyle is visiting and re-visiting things I was not too fond of years ago, understanding that my palate is constantly maturing. Everything deserves a second chance (and sometimes, a third).

 

What’s Tullamore D.E.W. all about? The story began in 1829 in the Irish town of Tullamore.  Michael Molloy was the founder, and his nephew took the reigns when Michael died. The distillery hired Daniel Edmund Williams at the ripe age of 15 as a stablehand. By the time he was 25 years old, he was running the whole shebang as its distillery manager.

 

Did you catch his name? That’s where the D.E.W. comes from!

 

Tullamore D.E.W. is a blend of three different whiskeys:  A 100% malt, a Pot Still (malted and unmalted barley distilled in a pot still), and grain whiskey. That blend is aged in former Bourbon barrels and sherry casks for at least four years, as it carries no age statement. It is chill-filtered and packaged at 40% ABV (80°), the minimum amount of alcohol required to be legally called whiskey. You can expect to spend about $24.00 on a 750ml bottle.

 

I grabbed a 50ml taster at one of my random liquor store visits for this review. Will my opinion of this Irish whiskey change with my more refined palate? Will this be a super-affordable jewel? The only way to find out is to crack it open and start the tasting.

 

Appearance: Served neat in my Glencairn glass, Tullamore D.E.W. presented as bright gold. A medium rim disintegrated into tiny, sticky droplets glued in place.

 

Nose:  Have you smelled butter before? That’s the first thing I picked out. Apple, banana, honey, and milk chocolate followed. When I pulled the air in past my lips, vanilla rolled across my tongue.

 

Palate:  I found the texture to be buttery with a medium-weighted body. The front was fruity with apple, melon, and honey, while the middle offered vanilla and mineral water. The back featured oak, toffee, and metal.

 

Finish: The medium finish consisted of clove, oak, and toffee, joined by mineral and more metal.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  There are certain flavors I’m not a fan of, and some are offensive. One such instance is metal. I may be more sensitive than others, but I just don’t like it. While I’m trying to overlook it and appreciate the remainder of what was in the bottle, I can’t get past it.

 

Would Tullamore D.E.W. make a good mixer? Perhaps. But, as I’ve said many times, I don’t recommend whiskeys as mixers; they have to stand on their own. While I wanted to like Tullamore D.E.W., it isn’t for me, and as such, it takes a Bust.

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.