There's something quietly thrilling about seeing Green Spot with an age statement. For years, the standard bottling has been one of Irish whiskey's best-kept secrets — a pot still classic that punches well above its modest price tag. So when The Whisky Exchange secured this exclusive single cask from 2013, a 10 year old matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at a hefty 56.6% ABV, I knew I had to get my hands on it.
Let's talk about what makes this interesting before we even get to the glass. Green Spot sits in the Irish pot still tradition, which means a mash of both malted and unmalted barley run through copper pot stills. That unmalted barley is the key — it gives pot still Irish whiskey a spicy, oily, almost creamy texture that you simply don't find in other styles. At 10 years old and cask strength, you're getting that character without any dilution or compromise. This is the distillate speaking for itself.
The bourbon cask maturation is the right call here. American oak brings vanilla, honey, and orchard fruit to the party, and with a full decade of contact, those flavours have had time to properly integrate rather than just sitting on top. At 56.6%, this isn't a whiskey that's been watered back to a polite 40%. You're getting the full weight of what that cask produced. I'd recommend adding a few drops of water and giving it a minute — cask strength Irish pot still can be a bit of a bear straight out of the bottle, but it rewards patience.
Tasting Notes
No formal tasting notes are provided for this exclusive release. What I can tell you is that a 10 year old pot still Irish whiskey from a single bourbon cask at natural strength is going to lean into baking spice, stone fruit, and that signature pot still pepperiness. The high ABV means texture will be substantial — expect an oily, mouth-coating delivery that opens up beautifully with water.
The Verdict
At £140, this sits in a competitive space. You could buy two bottles of the standard Green Spot for roughly the same money. But here's why I think this is worth it: you're getting a single cask, cask strength, age-stated release from one of Ireland's most respected pot still brands, exclusive to one retailer. That's a lot of boxes ticked. The 10 years of bourbon cask maturation at natural strength gives you something the standard bottling simply can't — depth, intensity, and individuality. Every single cask release is unique, and once this one's gone, it's gone.
I'm giving this an 8.2 out of 10. It's a genuinely excellent whiskey that showcases what Irish pot still can do when you strip away the training wheels and let it stand at full proof. The bourbon cask lets the distillery character lead rather than dominating it with wood influence. For collectors, for pot still enthusiasts, or for anyone who's ever loved the standard Green Spot and wondered what it could become with more time and no dilution — this delivers.
Best Served
Neat with a few drops of water is the way to go here. At 56.6%, that water isn't optional — it's essential to unlock everything this cask has to offer. If you're feeling adventurous, this would make an extraordinary pot still Old Fashioned: a barspoon of demerara syrup, two dashes of Angostura, and an orange twist. The cask strength means it'll hold its own against the sweetener without losing its identity. But honestly, a whiskey like this deserves to be savoured on its own terms first.
