Review: Green Spot Quails’ Gate

We’ve covered almost all the Spot whiskeys over the years, but one pesky limited edition has eluded us. Until now. Green Spot Quails’ Gate is the latest in a trifecta of special Green Spot single pot still Irish whiskeys from Midleton Distillery that crossed the pond back in 2023. First, there’s some back story on this series that we may have not yet shared. The unusually named Wine Geese Series in the Spot portfolio celebrates the Irish diaspora, particularly the so-called “wine geese,” Irish families who left Ireland in the early 1700s and established world-class wineries across the globe.

The first release took us to Bordeaux, the second to Napa, and this latest offering hails from a slightly more obscure wine region, British Columbia. Specifically, the winemaker Quails’ Gate which sits in the Okanagan Valley and has a reputation for fantastic Pinot Noir. Like the two other Wine Geese releases before it, this whiskey begins life as classic Green Spot aged in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks before an unspecified finishing in Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir casks. Thoughts follow.

Green Spot Quails’ Gate Review

Like the other two releases in this series, Quails’ Gate manages to offer a nuanced riff on the flagship Spot while still remaining true to the classic pot still whiskey at its core. The nose kicks off with that familiar, funky pot still spice, some barley sugar, and budding notes of banana bread and split vanilla bean. The finishing cask is nicely integrated into the aroma, delivering undertones of raspberry jam and currants that become richer blackberry cobbler as things open in the glass.

The palate showcases early notes of lemon custard and toffee that are balanced and almost buttery in texture. The tannins from the Pinot cask have reined in some of the more traditional Green Spot sweetness, adding a bit of structure and grip along with woody spices and silky notes of black cherry and orange marmalade. The finish is warm and well-spiced with clove and ginger and lingering notes of Linzer cookies and vanilla pudding. Another golden egg, if you will, from the Wine Geese Series.

92 proof.

A- / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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