Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey represents a $29.99/ 750ml bottle proposition in the evolving Irish whiskey landscape.
Nose
This is pale yellow with a faint golden undertone. There is a pronounced medley of tropical fruit on the nose alongside notes of overripe pear, yellow plum, sweet corn, and caramel sauce. This is very fruity and pungent. Aeration helps bring forth notes of dried berries and spice with a faintly juniper quality. Notes of ripe, yellow bananas dominate, almost verging on banana fruit candy. Punchy and flavorful, this is not what I was expecting from an Irish whiskey. Its certainly smooth and easy drinking, despite the high ABV. The American oak showed through with tropical fruit aromas and pungent notes of banana. It avoids being too saccharine or artificial, but is somewhat simple.rnrnI can see this appealing to fans of fruity bourbon and those interested in a smoother drink or an impactful mixer. I think its certainly worth the money, if only to experience what Bushmills states was the style available 100 years ago.
Palate
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Finish
In the mouth, the whiskey is sweetly fruity, with cloying notes of ripe bananas and whole grain bread. The texture is soft and smooth with a gentle pepperiness. I would not guess this was 46% ABV; it reads far lower. There are, as expected, heavy banana notes on the fruity finish as the whiskey gently evaporated in the back of the mouth. This is smooth and easy drinking.
Verdict
Bushmills Prohibition Recipe Irish Whiskey represents solid craftsmanship at $29.99/ 750ml bottle. While it may not redefine expectations, it offers genuine quality and reliable drinking pleasure.
