Review #530 - Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
A brand originally created in partnership with Conor McGregor, Proper No. Twelve is a blended Irish whiskey that sits in the budget category. It's mainly produced as a mixing whisky, evidenced by the bottling strength of 40% ABV and the plethora of cocktail recipes listed on the brand's website.
Many celebrity spirits are a bit over-hyped and mediocre, or at the very least, overpriced; this one comes at a reasonable cost, though, around $25. How does this 4 year old, ex-bourbon matured Irish blend stack up?
Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
Ireland - Blend
Price: USD 24 (2025)
Age Statement: 4 Years
Strength: 40% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 4 months; bottles at 100% and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Light fruits - lemon, apple, some light honey adding a bit of sweetness. The complexion is very light overall, and cake icing, white pepper, and some grain alcohol sharpness add to that profile. The oak influence is young yet drying, and the longer this airs out, the more of a chemical or permanent marker note appears.
Palate: A thin mouthfeel - some raw dry oak and grain to start, but there's a soft fruit like white grape. The grape transitions to a sort of young brandy flavor; brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla come next. Like the nose, the longer this is open, the more of an acetone taste develops on the palate.
Finish: White pepper, vanilla, and honey - a few baking notes. Tannins bring some spice, and the grape notes from the palate linger; in the aftertaste, there's a white bread note. A bit simple and mild, medium-short in length.
Final Note: Honestly, not as bad as expected given the reputation of this whisky in the spirits community... but it's still not great. By our own admission, it isn't really meant for neat sipping, but because this sells a large volume of bottles, it will inevitably be drunk a variety of ways; our recommendation would be to leave it to those mixed drinks. To be honest, there are better alternatives for that purpose, too - Jameson Irish Whiskey is the obvious example.
Because of the lower score, our value formula isn't spitting out a great rating, either - there are better options in the budget Irish whiskey market.
Our Average Rating: 3.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.24
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of blended Irish whiskies:
