Gold Spot 9 Year Single Pot Still 135th Anniversary 700ML

Gold Spot 9 Year Single Pot Still 135th Anniversary 700ML is a triple-distilled single pot still Irish whiskey bottled at 51.4% ABV (102.8 proof) in a 700ml format. This expression holds a notable distinction within the storied Spot whiskey family: it is the first to incorporate Port Pipe maturation alongside bourbon, sherry, and Bordeaux casks, resulting in a layered and fruit-forward character that separates it from its siblings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 51.4% (102.8 proof)  |  Origin: County Cork, Ireland  |  9 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Midleton

Production & Heritage

Gold Spot is produced at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, one of the most prolific and technically advanced whiskey distilleries in Ireland. The Spot whiskey lineage traces back to Mitchell & Son, the Dublin wine and spirits merchants who originally bonded and aged whiskey under the Spot color-coded system — with the color denoting years of maturation. This 135th Anniversary release honors that heritage with a nine-year maturation across four distinct cask types: bourbon barrels, sherry butts, Bordeaux wine casks, and — for the first time in any Spot expression — port pipes. The whiskey is triple-distilled from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, the hallmark of single pot still Irish whiskey production.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: An opening wave of tropical fruit — pineapple, kiwi, and green banana — gives way to lime zest and baked apple. Underneath, characteristic pot still spices emerge alongside hazelnut and toasted wood.

Taste: The entry is smooth and fruit-laden, with exotic fruit sweetness meeting clove and cracked black peppercorn at the mid-palate. As it develops, sweet spices like vanilla and cinnamon layer with nutty, wood-driven notes that add depth without overwhelming the fruit core.

Finish: Long and distinctly balanced, with lingering exotic fruit intertwining with warm spice. The port influence reveals itself here, lending a subtle dried-fruit sweetness that extends the finish considerably.

How to Drink Gold Spot

At 51.4% ABV, Gold Spot rewards careful exploration neat, though a few drops of water open up the tropical and spice layers considerably. It also holds its own in spirit-forward cocktails. A Pot Still Old Fashioned lets the fruit and spice complexity shine against a simple sugar and bitters framework. A Tipperary cocktail (Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, green Chartreuse) benefits from Gold Spot's port-cask sweetness balancing the herbal intensity. A Gold Rush — with honey syrup and lemon — amplifies the whiskey's tropical aromatics while the honey complements the vanilla and cinnamon notes.

Best For

• Gifting a dedicated Irish whiskey collector seeking a milestone Spot release
• Side-by-side tastings across the Spot color lineup to explore cask influence
• Celebrating a personal anniversary or achievement with an anniversary bottling
• Expanding a home bar beyond standard bourbon and sherry cask profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gold Spot taste like? Gold Spot delivers a smooth, fruit-forward profile with pineapple, kiwi, and baked apple layered over clove, cracked black pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon. The port pipe maturation contributes a subtle dried-fruit sweetness that distinguishes it from other Spot expressions.

How does Gold Spot compare to Blue Spot? Blue Spot carries a 7-year age statement and is bottled at a higher proof (typically 117+ proof), making it a more intense and spirited dram. Gold Spot, with its additional two years of aging and port pipe component, is often described as less rambunctious and more settled, with broader fruit complexity and a smoother overall presentation.

Is Gold Spot good for sipping neat? Gold Spot is an excellent neat sipper at 51.4% ABV — high enough to deliver full flavor intensity without the heat that can dominate younger, higher-proof expressions. A small amount of water further opens its aromatic range.

Where is Gold Spot made? Gold Spot is produced at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, the same facility responsible for all current Spot whiskeys as well as other renowned Irish whiskey brands. The Spot range was originally developed through Mitchell & Son of Dublin, who have been in business since 1887.

What foods pair well with Gold Spot? Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese complements the nutty, toasted wood notes. Dark chocolate with dried fruit mirrors the port cask influence. Roast duck with a berry reduction echoes the whiskey's sweet spice and fruit character. Spiced pear tart aligns with the baked apple and cinnamon flavors. Blue cheese with walnuts stands up to the pot still spice and higher ABV.

What sizes does Gold Spot come in? Gold Spot 9 Year 135th Anniversary is available in the standard 700ml bottle size.

Is Gold Spot worth the price? Gold Spot positions as a premium expression within the Spot family, sitting above Green Spot and Yellow Spot in both age and complexity. Its unique four-cask maturation — particularly the first-ever use of port pipes in the Spot range — and its limited 135th Anniversary designation place it in the upper tier of collectible single pot still Irish whiskeys, where the pricing reflects both quality and scarcity.

Why Gold Spot?

The defining achievement of this release is its pioneering use of port pipe maturation within the Spot family, a cask type that adds a dimension of dried-fruit sweetness and vinous depth absent from Green, Yellow, Red, or Blue Spot. The four-cask maturation program — bourbon, sherry, Bordeaux, and port — is among the most complex in the single pot still Irish whiskey category. At nine years old and 51.4% ABV, it strikes a deliberate balance between the youthful intensity of Blue Spot and the older, more wood-driven character of Red Spot. For collectors and enthusiasts tracking the evolution of the Spot range, this 135th Anniversary bottling represents a genuine inflection point in the series.