Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$50 to $55
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Third release in the Premium range of Teeling expressions completing our full range of non aged Irish whiskeys. Made from 100% Malted Barley from a range of different ages including Malt whiskey distilled in 1991. Aim to produce the most flavoursome NA Irish Single Malt based on our innovative maturation/finishing techniques while retaining the distinctive Irish smoothness. Consists of a vatting of 5 different wine cask (Sherry, Port, Madeira, White Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon) finished Irish Malt whiskeys. Like all the Teeling whiskeys it is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration allowing for all the natural flavours of the whiskey to be retained.

Nose Vibrant with notes of melon, figs, toffee and lemon
Taste A balance mix of dry fruits, citrus, vanilla, spice and cloves
Finish Long with sweetness in harmony with dry tannins from the wood

What Richard Says:
Nose: Crisp, fresh, fruity sweet, and slightly tannic. Apple peels, lemon bars, white chocolate shavings, and toffee crisps.
Palate: Vanilla cream on Christmas cakes followed by a snort of Port with a root beer chaser. As it opens up, more of the white chocolate from the nose starts coming out in the palate too.
Finish: Mildly wood, slightly tannic, and a spice grinder full of spices (not “spicy”).
Comments: I would say that there is a lot going on here but with a vatting of five different wine casks how could you not expect that. Surprisingly, the blending is superb and everything coalesces quite nicely. I’m having a hard time deciding whether I like this better or the Small Batch. But then again, if you don’t have to choose why would you.
Rating: Stands Out

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Our Flagship Irish whiskey and our attempt to create the most interesting Blended Irish whiskey. This small batch bottling consists of hand selected casks which are given further maturation in ex-rum barrels imparting extra character and smooth flavour unique to Irish whiskey. By bottling at 46% with no chill filtration completes an Irish whiskey of true character.

NOSE An inviting nose where vanilla and spice dances with bright sweet notes of Rum.
TASTE While being very approachable the influence of the rum cask and higher percentage alcohol creates a unique smooth, sweet, slightly woody marriage that sparkles on the tongue.
FINISH Slightly moorish, sweet spice finish complimented by woody undertones.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The rum definitely shines through on the nose. You would think it spent longer than six months in those casks. That honey sweetness is laid against a lighter orange blossom fragrance.
Palate: Toffee and vanilla sweet, rich, and creamy with a nice spicy black pepper kick to balance it out.
Finish: A little of the peppery note carries over into the finish but quickly gets out of the way for a more subtle lingering woody finish.
Comments: A high malt content Irish blend finished for six months in rum casks. Yes it’s as good as it sounds. It is a real stunner at it’s price point. I would have no problem picking this up again and again. This is probably my favorite rum finished Irish whiskey of all that I’ve tried to date.
Rating: Stands Out

Knappogue Castle Twin Wood Single Malt Irish Whiskey Aged 16 Years
40% ABV
$100
Website

What the Bottler Says:
With the help of the finest distillers and craftsmen, we bring you Knappogue TWIN WOOD — the first Sherry Finished Knappogue Castle matured for sixteen years in two types of wood. The result is a perfectly balanced single malt Irish whiskey with a complex, rich taste and a slightly sweet sherry finish.

We took the best of our 1994 vintage distilled single malt and aged it for just over fifteen years in bourbon barrels for our signature smooth taste. This perfect whiskey was then put into casks especially seasoned for Knappogue using Oloroso Sherry. We bottled only 1,900 bottles of this exquisite whiskey in December of 2010. Each individually numbered bottle is a true work of art.

Our Passion is for Perfection. Experience it in Knappogue Twin Wood.

Color: Medium deep reddish gold.
Aroma: Intense aromatic, rich, malty, fruity, spicy, nutty, vanilla, dusty dark chocolate, good age complexity.
Taste: Really deep and complex, nutty sherry maltiness, fruity, dusty dark chocolate, spicy, pleasant woodiness, vanilla notes, slightly peppery, some sweetness, mellow and rounded.
Finish: Nice sherried maltiness, some sweetness and dark chocolate lingering.
Comment: The greater age of this Knappogue expression serves to enhance and intensify the flavour of this single malt whiskey; and the sherry finish adds a further layer of taste complexity. The result is an Irish malt whiskey that ranks with the very best of the world’s single malts.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Even with the extra time in sherry wood the fresh grassy Bushmills-esque nose comes through. You have to give it some time for that sherry to start peeking around the edges.
Palate: Creamy, fruity sweet, and nutty with a dusting of cocoa powder and hints of sherry.
Finish: The finish leaves behind more of that lingering cocoa powder note.
Comments: The age and finishing are nice improvements over the regular 12 year old but not as much as the 14 year old limited edition. I think this one would also benefit from the same higher proof.
Rating: Stands Out