Distiller Notes
#3 Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2021
An inviting nose where barbeque smoke and cloves are intermingled with fresh notes of butterscotch and orange peel. On the palate a fascinating blend of Applewood smoke, honey and all spice are married with stewed pears and fresh grilled pineapple. This whiskey finishes with the return of a savory smoke over a lingering wood undertone, which combines delightfully with notes of salted caramel.
Professional Ratings
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Whisky Advocate
Peated whiskey is an ancient Irish style, but it’s harder to make than you might think. Teeling’s master distiller Alex Chasko ascertained that only malt as heavily peated as Ardbeg’s would enable the peaty flavors to withstand the large fraction eliminated by triple distillation. That decision delivers a superb subtle smokiness, which when put together with bourbon and sauternes casks creates a moreish whiskey alive with orchard fruit, panna cotta, and sweet floral notes, plus tangy marmalade and peppery spice. As distillers in Ireland dig deeper into peaty whiskey, you can bet on this bottle of smoke to make your day.
The result of an historically prohibitive tax placed on malted barley by the English crown, Irish Whiskey is most often produced from a combination of un-malted barley and other grains. Whereas most other Whiskeys are twice distilled, Irish Whiskeys are distilled three times in a column still and must mature in oak barrels for a minimum of three years. These intricate production steps combine to make them lighter, smoother and more approachable than other styles.