Green Spot Quails' Gate Pinot Noir Finish Irish Whiskey 750ML

Green Spot Quails' Gate Pinot Noir Finish Irish Whiskey 750ML is a single pot still Irish whiskey bottled at 46% ABV and finished in Canadian Pinot Noir casks. Scored 93 points by Whisky Advocate and ranked #16 on its Top 20 Whiskeys of 2023, this expression represents a standout entry in the Green Spot Wine Geese series.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46%  |  Origin: County Cork, Ireland  |  Blend of 7–10 Year Old Pot Still Whiskeys  |  Distillery: Midleton

Production & Heritage

Green Spot traces its lineage to the Mitchell family's bonding system in Dublin, where casks destined for the Mitchell & Son wine merchants were marked with a green paint spot to denote their age tier. Today, the whiskey is produced at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, one of the largest and most technically advanced distilleries in Ireland, operated by Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard). The Quails' Gate expression begins as a blend of 7- to 10-year-old triple-distilled single pot still whiskeys—made from a mashbill of both malted and unmalted barley—matured initially in ex-bourbon American oak and ex-sherry casks. It then undergoes an additional 16-month finish in Pinot Noir wine barrels sourced from Quails' Gate Winery in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, marking a transatlantic collaboration that distinguishes it from other releases in the range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with warm baking spices—cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and clove—before yielding to layers of green apple, strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. A subtle nutmeg accent ties the fruit and spice together.

Taste: The entry is silky and immediately weighty, with a chewy texture that carries warm, juicy flavors of red apple, cranberry sauce, and ripe cherry across the mid-palate. The wine cask influence introduces soft tannins that build gradually, accompanied by dried cranberries and a gentle interplay of pepper, clove, and nutmeg. A faint saline note—described by some as crushed seashells—adds unexpected complexity at the peak.

Finish: Long and layered, with toasted wood and pot still spices fading slowly as red fruit and wine-cask seasoning take the final bow. The tannin grip lingers without drying, leaving a mouthcoating sweetness that invites another sip.

How to Drink Green Spot Quails' Gate

At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, this whiskey rewards neat pours; a few drops of water can open up the red fruit character further without diluting its texture. It also holds up admirably in cocktails where its berry-forward, spice-driven profile can shine. A Whiskey Sour benefits from the cranberry-like tartness the Pinot Noir cask imparts. A Rob Roy plays off the existing wine-cask influence, amplifying the tannic structure with sweet vermouth. An Irish Old Fashioned allows the pot still spice and dried fruit to take center stage with minimal interference.

Best For

• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates wine-cask finishes
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Green Spot core and Wine Geese expressions
• After-dinner sipping alongside a cheese course
• Collecting award-winning limited Irish whiskey releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Green Spot Quails' Gate taste like? It delivers juicy red apple, cranberry, and cherry flavors wrapped in warm baking spices—cinnamon, clove, and pepper—with a silky, tannic mouthfeel courtesy of its 16-month Pinot Noir cask finish.

How does Green Spot Quails' Gate compare to Green Spot Château Léoville Barton? Both belong to the Wine Geese series and start from the same base of 7- to 10-year-old pot still whiskeys, but the Léoville Barton is finished in Bordeaux wine casks, which tends toward darker fruit and more structured tannins, while the Quails' Gate emphasizes brighter red berries and baking spice from its Pinot Noir barrels. The Quails' Gate earned 93 points from Whisky Advocate and a spot on its 2023 Top 20 list.

Is Green Spot Quails' Gate good for sipping neat? Absolutely—its 46% ABV and non-chill filtered bottling deliver full body and rich texture that are best appreciated neat or with a small splash of water.

Where is Green Spot Quails' Gate made? It is distilled at Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, and finished in Pinot Noir casks from Quails' Gate Winery in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada.

What foods pair well with Green Spot Quails' Gate? Roast duck breast complements the red fruit and spice; aged Comté or Gruyère echoes the nutty, tannic undertones; cranberry-glazed pork tenderloin mirrors the whiskey's dried cranberry notes; dark chocolate with sea salt accentuates the saline quality on the finish; and a charcuterie board with dried fruits ties into both the wine-cask sweetness and pot still spice.

What sizes does Green Spot Quails' Gate come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Green Spot Quails' Gate worth the price? It positions as a premium expression within the Green Spot lineup, priced above the classic Green Spot but justified by the specialized 16-month Pinot Noir cask finish, limited availability, and strong critical recognition including 93 points from Whisky Advocate.

Why Green Spot Quails' Gate?

What sets this release apart is its unusual transatlantic cask sourcing—Pinot Noir barrels from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley are rarely seen in Irish whiskey production, and the pairing with Midleton's rich pot still distillate creates a genuinely distinctive flavor profile. The 93-point score from Whisky Advocate and its #16 ranking on the publication's 2023 Top 20 Whiskeys list provide strong third-party validation. At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, it retains more flavor complexity than many competitors bottled at 40%. For drinkers who have explored the classic Green Spot and want to see how pot still whiskey responds to red wine cask influence, the Quails' Gate bottling is one of the most compelling expressions in the Wine Geese series.