Teeling 1991 Vintage Reserve 24 Year Single Malt

My grandfather fixed timepieces and taught me that one of life's greatest joys is when everything aligns perfectly. I had my initial taste of this whiskey at WhiskeyLive last year during a presentation by the Master Distiller from Teeling. I managed to keep a small sample for later enjoyment. This was the second whiskey (following Small Batch) released by Teeling, a 21 Year Old Silver Reserve. It originated from the Cooley Distillery, once owned by the Teeling family, and was distilled in September 1991. After Cooley was acquired by Beam Suntory, the Teeling brothers secured a significant quantity of well-aged whiskey casks. This 24 Year Old is the result of aging that 21 Year Old for an additional three years in Ex-Sauternes wine casks. In 2019, it became the first Irish whiskey to earn the World's Best Single Malt title at the World Whiskies Awards, a distinction the company openly pursued. The aroma presents a dessert-like blend of honey, vanilla, oak, a candy bar, subtle peat, crushed walnuts, and a preserve of marmalade and peach. It also carries notes of tropical fruits, reminiscent of the soft drink Lilt for those familiar with it. The initial taste is a somewhat dry yet sweet wine, as expected. It evolves into a chewy texture with notes of orange and mango, a touch of slightly tart peat and mineral water, an underlying hint of tannic wood, and a delightful sourness that's hard to define. Sugared tea and overcooked toast remain, with hints of eucalyptus lingering for minutes afterward. My goodness, this is exceptional. Regardless of awards, this is a remarkable achievement and warrants fervent admiration from everyone with a sense of taste and smell.

This Teeling 24-year-old Irish Whiskey received top honors at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards as the year's best whiskey, but does it truly deserve this title? First, how could Teeling release a 24-year-old whiskey when it only opened in 2015? The explanation is that they acquired casks from other distilleries, aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and then finished this batch of 5000 bottles in Sauternes wine casks. Second, is it genuinely the best whiskey overall for the year? Let's find out: Bottled at Teeling's standard 46% ABV, it presents a tawny hue. On the nose: Exceptionally fruity and sweet, with immediate cinnamon notes. It's very aromatic and spicy, smelling of apple caramel, red apples, apple pie, and cooked apples. Hints of coffee beans and dulce de leche make it intensely sweet, reminiscent of a dessert. It truly embodies apple pie on the nose, with no alcohol presence. After the first taste, notes of milk powder and vanilla emerge, like baby food apple puree. On the palate, it continues the theme. Flavors of cooked apple pieces, caramel, and dulce de leche are present, along with a full cinnamon spice. The initial sip is quite spicy. Apricots and ginger become noticeable after the third sip. The finish offers something different, dominated by tropical fruits like peaches, with cinnamon and pineapple. It's a long and very pleasant finish. In summary, this is a €325 pour that's easy to drink and very fruity, but lacks complexity. Personally, I believe there are many superior whiskies available for that price. While it's a good dram, it's by no means the best whiskey of 2019 for me. A score of 88 out of 100 feels most appropriate; it's not lower, nor does it seem to deserve more.

From 1991, this 24 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey was aged first in ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished in Sauternes wine casks. The double maturation adds a deep fruitiness that balances the subtle smoke from the inclusion of a small amount of Peated malt in the original mash. This small batch bottling, with a limit of 5,000 70cl bottles, was hand-bottled in unique decanters and includes a certificate of authenticity. It was named World’s Best Irish Single Malt, 21 Years Old + in 2018. This is a whiskey to be savored. Nose: Pot Still spices with a blend of lemon, orange peel, and pineapple Taste: Smooth, lemon, apricots, and gentle spices (credit to published reviews - on which I built mine)

Another Advent has concluded. The carols have been sung, the lights lit, cherished tales shared... and now, the weary minister returns home. This awaited me, the final pour from this year's Advent calendar. It was well worth the anticipation. Both the aroma and taste are wonderfully layered, with notes of stone fruit and pastry mingling with wisps of diesel smoke. It feels lightly drying, yet remains rich; robust and oily, yet also delicate and intricate. It navigates opposing qualities with elegance... it feels like the ideal spirit for a night of reflecting on the mysterious wonder of incarnation. It was worth the effort to find it.

Sweet with tropical and citrus notes. Aroma: Honey, raisins, white chocolate, key lime pie, coconut cream pie, peaches, raisins, salted caramel, dates, figs, pineapples, bananas, toffee, apricots, oranges, walnuts Palate: Papayas, passionfruit, honey, mangoes, figs, raisins, dates, white peaches, walnuts, almonds, banoffee pie Finish: Raisins, key lime pie, smoke, salted caramel, honey, raspberries, almonds, yellow plums, golden kiwis

This is it, I'm ready. Truly impressive, the benchmark Irish whiskey. The finish is indescribable; while others have described it as 'golden raisin,' for me it evokes 'maracujá,' a Brazilian fruit juice I enjoyed after a wonderful morning on the beach – truly amazing!