This blog has natural dips in production (much like some distilleries!) when my supplies and funds both get low at the same time. But today is a great treat - not a Scotch, but a very worthy Irish whisky has crossed my path!
Teeling is a very recent distillery: Wikipedia tells me it was founded in 2015, the first new whisky distillery in Dublin in ~125 years. That's an impressive fact all by itself, but isn't worth much if the golden stuff doesn't back it up.
What we have here is 50% malted, 50% unmalted, aged in virgin oak, bourbon oak, and sherry casks, it's bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtering.
Nose: Very thick, spicy, sweet. Waxy white grapes, vanilla, waxy ripe banana. Faint iron, like tasting a penny. Maybe gingerbread?
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied.
Palate: Lemon, cereal grains, apple cores, white wine, a hint of the same metallic element. Lemon and lemon zest are predominant. The gingerbread from the nose turns into baking spices here - cloves, especially.
Finish: Very short, more lemon and spices. This is where the whisky feels youngest to me - it just zaps out of existence so quickly.
Verdict: Very tasty! The spicy nose and citrusy palate really produce an interesting young spirit here. I wasn't surprised by the overall brightness - I've read this is only 3 years old - but there are some fascinating things happening here nonetheless, particularly the odd metallic note. Worth trying, definitely.
Just got the regular Teeling at a good price. For the price it is a great whisky! But, this lemon/honey cream note sorta annoys me, so I don't find myself reaching for it often. Still, wouldn't turn it down and would love it at a bar.
ReplyDeleteThis is Rob, btw. Was going through your reviews, ralfy.com and the whiskey vault for recommendations. Didn't realize I could still post!