GreenSpot Whiskey

Greenspot Whiskey

Greenspot Whiskey is from the family of Spot Whiskeys, a unique range of single-pot still Irish whiskeys that have been tempting the palate of whiskey lovers since it was first produced in 1805 when the Mitchell family entered the spirits business.

The Mitchell family were coined as purveyors of fine wines and confectionery, but what would eventually become their Spot Range whiskeys took the family business to a whole new level.  

Today Spot Whiskey offers fine Irish whiskeys, including Green Spot, which is one of a diminishing class of bonded Irish whiskey.

Not only that, but Green Spot is one of the nice still whiskeys that you can get your hands on for about $50 – give or take. 

Key Takeaways

  • Green Spot is a non-age statement, single-pot still whiskey 
  • Green Spot is one of the few remaining bonded Irish whiskeys
  • Green Spot is the entry-level product of the Spot Whiskey Range
  • The Spot Whiskey range also includes Blue Spot, Yellow Spot, Red Spot, and Gold Spot whiskeys

Green Spot 

GreenSpot Whiskey

Green Spot came to be when the Mitchell family decided to get in on the business of bonded whiskey. They would send sherry, port, and wine casks to the Jamesons, where the casks would be filled and then returned to the Mitchell family to be aged in their warehouse, where they would mature for a number of years until they were then bottled and eventually sold. 

This whiskey is a little different in that it’s aged in a combination of new bourbon casks, sherry casks, and refill bourbon casks.

This combination lends some interesting layered taste notes to the matured and bottled whiskey. 

Green Spot is a single-pot still whiskey, which serves as an entry or introduction to the range of Spot Whiskies.

The “spot” comes from the barrels being marked with a color spot to indicate how long they were to age. It is aged for the shortest amount of time, but it doesn’t offer an age statement. Green Spot Whiskeys are aged anywhere between seven and ten years. 

greenspot whiskey

The Details

Color 

Before you even open the bottle, the color of Greenspot catches your attention. It’s a really nice gold color – warm, almost like that nice warm gold color when you catch a glimpse of a field of barley just as the sun is shining on it. That description might sound a little poetic, but it’s still a nice color. 

greenspot whiskey

Nose 

So, you’ve poured a dram of Greenspot into your whiskey glass, and you lean in, letting the nose of the whiskey come to you. Spotwhiskey describes the nose as “Fresh aromatic oils and spices with orchard fruits and barley on a background of toasted wood,” and we wholeheartedly agree with this statement, but we noticed something more. 

At first, the nose is mellow. Grassy doesn’t feel like the right word, but there’s definitely something earthy there. This is the first impression, which is then followed by mellow spices and maybe a hint of tea. The thing is, each time we thought we had Greenspot figured out, we gave it another second or two and noticed even more layers. 

There was so much there by the end – a full, spicy body, a hint of cloves, the sweetness of apple, and robust fruit. Then, maybe a bit of nuttiness and cocoa. 

Our advice is to let your nose linger. The more time you give it, the more there is to enjoy. 

Palate 

Palate 

With a nose like that, we went into the task of tasting this beauty, already feeling a little intoxicated. Again, we were impressed with the complexity of this single-pot still Irish whiskey. 

We found this to be a very smooth whiskey, while someone who is uninitiated to whiskey drinking likely won’t notice all the subtle flavor notes at first. There is definitely some forward fruity sweetness, and we thought the flavor of fresh, tart green apples was reasonably pronounced. You could still taste it, even if you hadn’t read a description of Greenspot. 

Letting this linger on the palate really matured the taste. It evolved into several different types of fruits with a detectable grain taste, which ended up being an interesting combination. Fresh peaches paired with grain tastes a little like peach pie. There’s just a hint of creaminess to it also, along with a bit of citrus and spice thrown into the mix. 

How Does It Finish 

In our opinion, the finish is much more subdued than the full-on lingering flavors on the palate. Much of the fruitiness fades a little into the background, and you finish with more noticeable notes of malted barley or toasted oak.  

Overall, we think Green Spot makes a great sipping whiskey, or if you’re going to mix it into a cocktail, choose one with simple mixers that will complement and aren’t going to compete with the wonderful flavors. 

Awards 

Green Spot single-pot still Irish Whiskey has earned numerous impressive accolades. Some of the most notable include:

  • Earning 95 points and being awarded a finalist in the 2016 Ultimate Spirits Challenge
  • Earning 87 points in the 2017 Ultimate Spirit Challenge 
  • Earning the Silver Award in the 2016 International Spirits Challenge
  • Earning 91 Points from the 2016 Beverage Tasting Institute 

Green Spot Specialty Bottles 

  • Green Spot Quail’s Gate – Matured in American oak and ex-sherry casks and then finished in pinot noir casks to add flavors of luscious cherries, berries, and unmalted barley
  • Green Spot Chateau Montelena – Whiskeys aged in sherry and bourbon casks, which are then finished in French oak zinfandel casks for hints of warm vanilla, chocolate, and harvested fruits
  • Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton – Matured in bourbon and sherry casks, then finished in French oak wine casks from Chateau Leoville Barton.

FAQs

Is Green Spot made by Jameson?

Green Spot is made by the Midleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland. 

How old is Green Spot Whiskey?

Green Spot doesn’t have an age statement and is aged between seven and ten years. 

Is Green Spot Whiskey rare?

GreenSpot is made in small batches, which does make it somewhat rare, but the chances are you won’t have too much difficulty getting your hands on a bottle. 

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