Teeling – Single Grain

I am ready to admit that I am not an expert on all matters whisky. There are even whole countries from which I have yet to even taste a single dram. Luckily early on my journey I was informed that there are good drams to be found in Ireland. Having had, enjoyed and quickly drained a bottle of Green Spot, I know this to be true from first hand experience. So when I spotted the Teeling Triple pack in Grape and Grind, I was excited to get the chance to try three more.

Today started badly, continued on exhaustingly and then finally crashed on to the sofa. So to celebrate the navigation over the hump of another Wednesday, I am drinking the first little bottle of joy. I am drinking from a Glencairn and enjoying the music of Half Moon Run.

Aroma: Plum, Cinnamon, Honey and Light Wooden Notes.

Taste: Firstly, the flavour that hits the tongue is fleetingly sweet, carrying rich fruity notes, like a mince pie or Christmas cake. However this doesn’t have chance to last very long, as a rush of spice, warmth and wood rush the palate, swirl round the mouth and bring a drying tingle. There is a sweetness, but its that of a rich, red wine. The final flavour is tannic, drying, spicy and wooden. Again reminding me of red wine, like a Rioja or a Pinotage. It is this spicy note that lasts the longest, nutmeg, cinnamon and oak very much present.

Mouthfeel: Spicy and drying. This is a rich, strongly flavoured dram.

Overall: This is such a different and interesting whisky, yet it carries flavour notes, which feel oddly familiar and therefore inherently pleasing.

Whereas some whiskies warm the palate and throat, this dram feels oddly cooling, like a mint chocolate ice cream. This experience alone, makes this whisky worth tasting.

Aroma: 15

Start: 14

Middle:16

Finish: 14

Value: 15

Overall: 74/100

More Information: Teeling Whiskeys

Available: Grape and Grind