Teeling Blend Chestnut Finish
This distillery-only release is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys, aged between 4 – 6 years, which has been finished in chestnut casks for 6 – 12 months that once held PX brandy. Bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. €60.00.
Omar Fitzell Notes
First thing that hits me is the brandy. There has to be a brandy finish here somewhere. Cinnamon and orange rind with a hint of leather. Sweetness appears after a little while with some vanilla there too.
Palate:
Bit of a light mouth feel for me. Loads of influence from the wood and slightly bitter as a result in contrast to the sweet nose. Not in a very bad way, I was just expecting something different. Loads of malt in there and something like grapefruit, can’t put my finger on it.
Finish:
Medium to long finish. A nice smack of orange citrus lingering right to the end complimenting a prickly spice.
Overall:
While I was expecting one thing, I got a different beast…but not in a bad way. For me the brandy took front and centre and not chestnut casks. And I really enjoyed that. A drop of water really opens this up and dials back that brandy and allows more chestnut notes to float to the top. For €60 in the distillery, it’s a drop worth picking up for something different.
Al Higgins notes
Nose:
That’s nuts! Chestnut to be precise, but in reality, it actually reminds me of fruit and nut chocolate. Some mocha, caramel, horchata and chai notes make this quite an interesting prospect.
Palate:
Starts off with an interesting prickle of spice and pepper, then it becomes warmer and more well-rounded. Chocolate, nut and raw coconut all make an appearance.
Finish:
Evolves into something more akin to the standard Teeling Small Batch but for a moment I almost forgot this was a blend.
Overall:
Definitely worth seeking out if you can get it. This has far more depth and richness than most blends.
Omar Fitzell
Omar has been lurking in the background of the Irish Whiskey Industry since 2010 when he started his journey through tasting, enjoying and collecting whiskey. In January 2018 he launched the online blog “That’s Dram Good” which, in those few short months, has become one of the most popular whiskey blogs in Ireland.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @thatsdramgood
• Facebook – ThatsDramGood
Al Higgins
Over 20 years of experience in drinks retail and a member of the team at the Celtic Whiskey Shop since 2003. Alastair is chief tester and taster at the shop and is also coordinator for the Irish Whiskey Awards. When he is not working he is either training for ultra-marathons, parenting or drumming with his band Le Galaxie.
You can find him on:
• Twitter – @mostlydrinking