Green Spot Chateau Léoville Barton Tasting Notes

	Green Spot Chateau Léoville Barton Tasting Notes
	Midleton Distillery (Pernod Ricard)
	Single Pot Still
	46%abv

 

Tasting note compiled by Mark McLaughlin (@mark_rye)

 

Introduction

Here at Stories & Sips we previously visited the Blue Spot 7year old Cask Strength Whiskey where we touched on the origins of The Spot Whiskey range and Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants. The flagship Green Spot has been a main stay of the Single Pot Still category since its reintroduction by Midleton in 2009, and the entire range is growing in popularity with each release.

Green Spot Chateau Léoville Barton was the first release as an extension of the Green Spot range referred to, anecdotally, as the Wine Geese collection. Inspired by Mitchell & Son’s long running relationships with famous wineries throughout the world with Irish Connections. Thomas Barton, a Fermanagh man who had emigrated to France had initially formed a Wine Merchant company after which his grandson Hugh Barton got into wine making with the family business eventually forming Chateau Leoville Barton.

Taking the same ex-bourbon and sherry matured components which make up the flagship Green Spot it is finished in Chateau Leoville Barton Bordeaux Red Wine casks made from French oak which previously held the first wine of this 2nd growth winery, one of the most respected and revered in all of Bordeaux.

 

Color

IDL Amber with the slightest hint of red wine influence.

 

Nose (Aromas)

The nose here is both robust and elegant at the same time, the spirit is supremely present and you can tell it’s going to have plenty of character, whereas initially there’s lots of subtle hints of flavour elegantly presenting themselves. The typical apples and pears become abundantly apparent after a few moments followed by a strawberry character with underlying spice notes continuing to prickle softly.

 

Palate & Finish 

The palate is quite refined, subtle French oak notes open the way quite quickly, coconut and toasted wood notes followed by the orchard fruits you’d expect from a Green Spot. There’s drying spice throughout with very subtle berry fruits showing themselves elegantly every now and then.The finish is a balance between oak and nutty notes while the aromatics carry a lingering sweetness.

 

Verdict

Not my first time trying this, I feel like when it was first released it was a bit more boisterous, whereas I found this quite relaxed, elegant even, certainly a showcase of French oak influence and subtle flavour layering. I was huge fan, now I’m just a more modest sized fan but I do think you should be too.

 

 

Buy Online

 

 

 

 

Request Tasting Notes

Looking for tasting notes of a whiskey not yet covered? Whiskey Club members can request tasting notes for any Irish whiskey by filling out the form here. We’ll add this whiskey to the queue and let you know as soon as it’s published.