Blue Spot Casj Strength Whiskey

Blue Spot is an Irish whiskey, and this bottling's name points to a high-strength expression, so the label's ABV is the number to check before pouring. Strength-style Irish whiskeys usually sit well above the standard 40%, which changes how they should be handled at the glass more than it changes the flavor. Irish whiskeys in this vein typically lead with soft cereal sweetness, honeyed barley and vanilla, with fruit notes such as orchard apple or pear and a gentle spice finish from the wood. At higher proof, expect those notes to arrive with more weight and a longer, warmer finish, and little of the peat smoke associated with Scotch. Treat this as the usual shape of the style, not a measured profile of this exact bottle. For sipping, pour a small measure into a Glencairn and nose it before tasting. At high strength the alcohol can mask the aromas, so add water a few drops at a time, using a spoon or pipette. The whiskey will usually open up, with the grain and fruit coming forward and the heat softening. A rocks glass suits a more relaxed pour, and a single large cube melts slowly enough not to flatten the flavor. Smaller or cracked ice dilutes quickly and is better avoided. Because the strength carries through dilution, this style does well in spirit-forward drinks. An Old Fashioned made with a sugar cube, a few dashes of bitters and an orange peel lets the whiskey's sweetness lead, and a Manhattan with sweet vermouth gives it enough structure to hold its own. A Whiskey Sour holds up to the lemon and sugar without turning thin. For a Highball, tall over ice with soda water or ginger ale stretches a bottle of this strength into several long drinks, so you needn't spend a precious pour on it.