Origin: Dublin (Ireland)
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Muscat Wine
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Teeling Whiskey Company
Average price: € 140.00
Official website: teelingwhiskey.com
Vote: 87/100
Teeling is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and lively realities of the Irish new wave, and in just six years of activity has been able to carve out a place of honour in the production heart of the jaded island, and in that of enthusiasts.
This ‘Rebirth Series’ celebrates the return of Irish whiskey to the world stage with limited edition, premium bottlings.
The first one, launched in 2019, featured 9,000 bottles, the result of over sixteen years’ ageing in ex-Bourbon casks and eighteen months’ refining in ex-Madeira.
The second, also in 9,000 bottles, offered eighteen total years of ageing divided between ex-Bourbon and ageing for an unspecified time in ex-Shiraz, Australian wine barrels.
And here we come to this third, recent bottling, again in ex-Bourbon with unspecified refinement in ex-Muscat wine and distributed in 9,000 bottles, all natural.
The whiskey is obviously not indigenous in any of the three versions, coming from the Cooley distillery with which the founders have a historic family link.
Tasting Notes
Amber in the glass, with pinkish reflections.
Very fruity nose with herbaceous and mentholated tones that maintain its freshness, blowing on apricots, pineapple, mango, candied orange and pear, chocolate, meringue, vanilla. Veins of lemon and tea leaves. Along the length, a light touch of propolis. An elegant fruit bomb.
The palate becomes softer and warmer, the fruit turns cooked (pears and apples) with spicy touches (cinnamon, nutmeg), citrus, rhubarb, liquorice root, coffee, touch of vanilla. The herbaceous and lemony component moves to the rear, appearing at the end of the sip, leaving a trail of freshness that cleans the mouth. Pinches of pepper.
Quite long and saline finish with ginger and pepper, orange, baked apple, nutmeg, aniseed.
I would expect more layering and complexity from an eighteen year old, but it has plenty of personality: rich and smooth, with the finishing that gives it non-trivial streaks that accompany the dram and make it interesting.