Powers John’s Lane Last Drop Review
Last Drop Review
A review designed to explore how a bottle changes over the time it’s opened.
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46%
Cask: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks
MSRP: $60
Distillery Name: Midleton
Open For: 2 Years
Opinion Through the Bottle: John’s Lane 12 year may have one of the strangest names in the industry, but it still ranks as one of the more fun and unusual experiences in the Irish whiskey scene. And yet looking back on the nearly two years this bottle has been open, I am only mildly sad to see this bottle go. It was funky, sweet, and felt like a detour away from the traditional lemon shortbread flavors that many Irish whiskies have become known for. John’s Lane provided a heavy, fruity, sweet, pot still driven spirit that immediately gave off flavors of stewed fruits, compote, and baked apples. But while it started off strong, time has softened much of the edges around this whisky, making for a more gentle and easy going pour than I had hoped. The excellent mouthfeel remains, but some of the heat and complexity has been smoothed away. This is a bottle I would happily recommend to friends and family – especially those looking to explore outside the traditional Irish tropes. It still ranks highly – just didn’t keep me interested all the way through.
