50°
Distillery : Cooley - Ireland
Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Finish
Independent Bottling
By The Teeling Whiskey Company
Limited Edition
Single Grain
Bottled in 2021
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Totally Unpeated
Originally, Single Grain was not supposed to contain an ounce of malted barley, but gradually it was combined with a blend of cereals. Here we have 95% corn alcohol and 5% malted barley alcohol. As the product is 13 years old, we can deduce that it comes from the Cooley distillery, of which the Teeling brothers bought 16,000 casks when their father sold the distillery to Beam Suntory. So this is an independent bottling, and a limited series, even if the number of bottles on sale is not specified. The 4-year finish in Bordeaux red wine casks adds a touch of originality that the Teeling brothers are accustomed to, within the strict framework of Irish whiskey tradition.
Let's Taste It :
Bordeaux makes its mark, with heather earth, forest fruits, berries, blackberries and gooseberries. There are also conifers, with fir, pine needles and resin. Varnished wood. Red plums. Bulk cereals, puffed rice, wheat, corn, oats. All in fine balance. On the palate, it's vinous, muscat grape juice, rich spices, tannins, fat earth. The finish is a bit light but very long and warm, on cola and oak bark. Damp undergrowth. Grapes burst on the palate.
In Short,
A very fine marriage between grain alcohol and Bordeaux wine. The result is really pleasant, with hints of cereals and red fruits, it's very greedy. It makes you want to buy one, but unfortunately the value for money isn't very exciting.
Score : 87
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Natalie Merchant - Carnival
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