The flavor profile is almost reminiscent of Angostura bitters, in an exceedingly drinkable way. This is a perfect holiday dram and would make a great riff on a Manhattan.
On the palate, you'll find a fairly full whiskey with flavors much like the aroma with a little vanilla cream and a hint of mint. The finish is on the dry side, but the fruit factor is not as intense as you might expect.
On the whole the Teeling Irish Single Grain Whiskey has a boldness to it that sustains it from the nose through the finish; the wine casks seem to have tempered the harshness that can come from young grain whiskey. It’s something that I wasn’t expecting, but those casks have given it a depth that’s usually only found in much older grain whiskeys. It’s a nice, different, perspective on Irish whiskey and well worth a try.
Bizarrely, we’re pretty much in Bushmills 10 territories, although that one was a malt. Fine, but not characterful spirit. Rather for cocktailers and master mixologists?
The body is even harder to pin down. At first the whiskey is mild and easygoing, then it develops some of the more traditional character of Irish whiskeys — touches of banana and coconut, salted caramel, buttered toffee, and honey. The grain base becomes more evident on the finish, a toasty, malty conclusion that is both a little unexpected but also surprisingly satisfying.
The aroma shows nuts, vanilla and orchard fruit. It's light-bodied and slightly buttery on the palate, with lots of vanilla and custard, and a slightly fruity finish and a build of alcohol heat.
