Clonakilty Single Batch Double Oak Finished

I started seeing Clonakilty bottles more and more at stores over the past year and I finally picked up a bottle of the Clonakilty Single Batch Double Oak Finished (Batch No. 017 to be exact) a month or so ago. For those that care, the liquor store had a tasting table and the very nice gentleman representing Clonakilty let me try three expressions, the aforementioned Double Oak, the Single Grain and (I think) the Port Finished. For what it's worth, I liked the Double Oak the best of the three. 

Clonakilty is an Irish Whiskey, and I admit that while I have dabbled in the Irish, I have not gone down the rabbit hole as much as their American or Scottish cousins.  That said, I've had some tremendous Irish and some bottles that are better left unopened.  This expression was aged in ex-Bourbon casks as well as Bordeaux red wine casks (European Oak) that were shaved, toasted and re-charred.

ABV: 43.6% (style points for precision to the tenth of a percent)

How it smells….Lemons and apples with light spices. Mild overall.

How it tastes…. Relatively mild and smooth throughout.  Sweet up front followed by vanilla and oak and a bit of spicy ginger lingering at the finish, leaving your tongue tingling.  

Price….I picked up this bottle for $50.

Rating….🥃🥃🥃🥃 

Final thoughts….I really liked this whiskey and thought it represented the category well and for the price, it's a bottle worth keeping in stock.  If you are looking for something to cozy up next to the fire with this winter, then it's not the right sipper, however, if you want to reminisce about Spring or Summer during these cold months, then I highly recommend it.