The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old Special Reserve
Irish WhiskeyIssue 138

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old Special Reserve

Tullamore D.E.W. · Tullamore Distillery

80 proof12 YearCounty Offaly, Ireland
The 12-year-old expression demonstrates what patient triple distillation and careful cask management can achieve. It's a blend that punches above its price, balancing sherry richness with pot still character. The kind of Irish whiskey you reach for when you want complexity without drama.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Inviting dried fruit and honeycomb lead, with almond and a touch of clove spice underneath. Vanilla and soft floral notes develop with time in the glass, suggesting sherry cask influence.

Palate

Silky and medium-bodied. Caramel and malt form the backbone, with dried apricot and nut sweetness at the center. A gentle spiciness — clove and a whisper of cocoa — builds toward the back palate without ever becoming sharp.

Finish

Moderate length with buttery malt and lingering dried fruit. A pleasant woody dryness closes cleanly.

Specifications
Distillation
Triple distilled
Maturation
Minimum 12 years in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks
Single Pot Still
No
Chill-Filtered
Yes
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Tipperary Cocktail — 1.5 oz Tullamore D.E.W. 12 · 1 oz green Chartreuse · 1 oz sweet vermouth · Stir over ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a cherry.

Food Pairing

The whiskey's dried fruit and nutty character mirror the sweet, crystalline quality of well-aged Comté, with fig preserves bridging the sherry influence.

The Story

Blended from pot still, malt, and grain whiskeys matured for a minimum of twelve years in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks at the Tullamore distillery in Ireland's midlands.

Train These Aromas
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