This whiskey was reviewed as a part of Drinks By the Dram’s, Irish Whiskey Advent Calendar, whiskey I sampled, enjoyed and reviewed across the Christmas season of 2018. The whiskey behind the advent door on this particular day is a firm favourite in the world of Irish whiskey, Teeling Small Batch.
This is their entry level offering, the first of their core trio; Small Batch, Single Grain and, Single Malt. This whiskey is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys that have been married together and finished in rum casks and bottled at 46% ABV (92 Proof), with no chill filtration.
This is a great value blended whiskey with some really interesting flavours. I am looking forward to seeing how this blend develops over time, once the Teeling Distillery’s own stock comes on board.
Tasting Notes by Matt Healy, Chief Editor of Potstilled.com.
Nose: Strong but delightful nose. Vanilla, burnt sugar, pear and a hint of nutmeg on the nose.
Palate: The palate is balanced with a good mouthfeel, owing itself to the higher alcohol percentage. The palate opens with the familiar vanilla/sugar sweetness from the nose, which then develops into apricots and pears.
Finish: This has a medium finish with a spry woodiness that ties together pleasantly with the vanilla tones remaining.
Overall: A great starting point in the Teeling family tree. It is a young whiskey but very enjoyable and won’t break the bank by any means. In the republic of Ireland this retails for approximately, €40.
If the whiskey wasn’t enough, there’s an additional bonus, for you quick consumers out there. There is a limited time offer in James Fox’s Whiskey and Cigar Shop on lower Grafton Street (check out jamesfox.ie), where you can personalise your own Teeling Small Batch Whiskey for the holiday season! But be quick, the promotion is ending soon! Check it out here.