Whisky from...? Northern Ireland

OK hands up how many distilleries can you name in Ireland? A few? What about Northern Ireland? How many other than Bushmills?

A bit of research will tell you there is only 1 other selling whiskey but a few more are distilling and will have whiskey available soon.

In 2013 the @Echlinville Distillery became Northern Ireland’s first licensed distillery in over 125 years, based on the Ards Peninsula about 25 miles southeast of Belfast it's a small farm distillery using its own barley and floor malting to produce a range of whiskies.

@DunvilleWhiskey is the famous old brand that was once made in Belfast's Royal Irish Distillery. Sadly the distillery was one of many to falter in the mid-1900s and it looked as if Dunville's had disappeared permanently. Fortunately it has been resurrected by the Echlinville Distillery who are the proud owners of this historical whiskey and a number of other brands.

Dunville's PX 12yo at 46%

Distillery notes: 12yo finished in Pedro Ximenez sweet sherry casks bottled at 46% 

Tasting notes: Nose: Fresh green apples, with green grass and tropical chews. Palate: Notes of soft raisins and Irish caramel with peppery spicy overtone. Softer and sweeter on the palate, with bubblegum, Jolly ranchers and some spiced custard.

My thoughts:

Appearance: A lovely dark gold showing the PX cask influence. Swirls leave thin lines, beading up to fall as slow thin legs. 

Nose: Sherry and christmas spices dominate, some orchard fruit and dried pineapple.

Palate: Lovely thick arrival, sweetness and spice in balance - the dried tropical fruit comes to the fore balanced with ginger spice. The christmas notes continue with a chewy cake note. Smoke hints and chewy toffee develop after a few sips leaving a dryness in the mouth.

Finish: Long spicy finish,  bubblegum notes and a drying effect - yummy!

Overall: A lovely dram, the PX finish dominated the whisky and that's not a bad thing. Not a distillery I'd heard of until I received this sample but definitely one I'll be looking out for in the future.

Many thanks to @BlackCountryWS for the sample swap!