Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Trader Joe’s Special Reserve Irish Whiskey

Trader Joe's Special Reserve Irish Whiskey. Photo ©2024, Mark Gillespie/CaskStrength Media

Country: Ireland

Region:

Type: Irish Whiskey

Bottler: Trader Joe's

ABV: 40%

Score: 78 Points

This Trader Joe’s exclusive whiskey comes from an undisclosed distillery, and perhaps the names have been left off to protect the guilty. The nose has touches of buttered popcorn, butterscotch, dried fruits, and a hint of honey. That’s the good part. The taste is slightly butyric with a touch of lighter fluid and dried fruits. The finish is malty and grainy with touches of barley sugar and popcorn. Even at $15.99 a bottle, I still can’t recommend it. (March, 2024)