Dunvilles 12yo Single Malt PX Cask
Older sibling to the award winning 10 year old, this 12 year old single malt from Echlinville Distillery is finished in Pedro Ximinez sherry casks. Bottled at 46% and non-chill filtered. RRP €89.00.
Omar Fitzell Notes
Very light pepper spice to begin with that’s nicely complimented with tropical fruit such as banana. There’s a slight Christmas cake nose that appears but doesn’t shout and roar Sherry finish but has enough for you to know it’s there.
Palate:
Wow. This is a massive step up from the 10yr old, which is a great drop! Lovely long slow legs on the glass. It has a softer malt taste than its younger brother and it’s also much sweeter! Very slight heat from the 46% ABV but nothing harsh. Loads of green apples and, in a good way, some freshly cut grass…no I’ve never tasted fresh cut grass, but you get the idea. I hadn’t got that on the nose! Sherry influence isn’t too overpowering, with the whiskey itself being the star of this show, but there is a nice raisin and dried figs note to it.
Finish:
Medium finish where the slight warmth continues for a short while. Sweetness continues with some custard notes trialling off at the very end.
Overall:
I have a bottle of Dunvilles 10 on my shelf at the moment and I do enjoy it, but this 12 year old kicks it up to another level. I found it to be a much more balanced whiskey with the Sherry influence just right for the malt. The addition of water rowed back on some of the heat from the 46% ABV but other than that, didn’t seem to elevate anything else for me.
Al Higgins notes
Nose:
Fresh and tangy a hint of sea salt a generous dollop of dirt smoke. Islay is shouting out.
Palate:
Crunchy green apple and some soft fruits. The smokiness is less evident but you know it’s there, nothing like the whisky that previously graced this cask though.
Finish:
A nice bit of stone fruits and the sherry influence comes through here.
Overall:
I think I need more time with this whiskey and several more samples! This is a thinking whiskey. There is a lot going on. If I tried this again tomorrow I would have some different notes. I’m trying not to think about the casks that came from Islay to mature this whiskey but they get into your head! A top whiskey and it is certainly something different for the Irish market.
Omar Fitzell
Omar has been lurking in the background of the Irish Whiskey Industry since 2010 when he started his journey through tasting, enjoying and collecting whiskey. In January 2018 he launched the online blog “That’s Dram Good” which, in those few short months, has become one of the most popular whiskey blogs in Ireland.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @thatsdramgood
• Facebook – ThatsDramGood
Al Higgins
Over 20 years of experience in drinks retail and a member of the team at the Celtic Whiskey Shop since 2003. Alastair is chief tester and taster at the shop and is also coordinator for the Irish Whiskey Awards. When he is not working he is either training for ultra-marathons, parenting or drumming with his band Le Galaxie.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @mostlydrinking