Bushmills 10 years

Score: 69

Two woods means bourbon and sherry cask use, fine. The official blurb credits this whiskey with honey, vanilla and ripe fruit notes. Well, the first two descriptors definitely cover most of the flavour profile here. I associate much older malts and [G&M] bottlings from the 70's with ripe fruits, the depth of which certainly doesn’t reside here. The wood is new and sappy and the cereal bourbon has the edge over the sherry - a thoughtful ratio. Over time vanillas rule, (JD?] bourbon casks dominating proceedings. There seems to be some caramel in here too. A bit bitey as the kiln-dry wood vs cereal spirit jostle towards a savoury-sour development. Given time it sweetens up, sugary barley spirit remains. When you think how much more accomplished the 12yo is by comparison WB, this 10yo comes across as more of a rookie with the right intentions.