Teeling Distillery Exclusive Chestnut Finish

By rule, Irish whiskey needs at least three years aging in wooden barrels, like oak. This allows for trying out various woods, and Teeling did precisely that with this spirit. Chestnut, being more porous than oak, is uncommon, but I think Teeling used their Small Batch whiskey base (a malt and grain mix aged 4 to 6 years in oak) and finished it in chestnut for 6 to 12 months. Furthermore, the chestnut barrels previously held PX Brandy. A curious mix, but in my opinion, a failed endeavor. The chestnut is evident on the aroma, with some maple syrup as others have mentioned. The taste brings wood spice but I found it excessively bitter and sharp. Nonetheless, it's commendable they pursued something distinctive and original, yet fell short, rather than aiming for widespread appeal and succeeding.

The aroma leaps from the glass with strong fig, dried apricots, dates, real maple syrup, and surprisingly, roasted chestnuts. It didn't have many of the traditional Irish characteristics I'm accustomed to, but the rich butter allowed me to still identify it as Irish. The taste delivers everything from the nose, plus amazing butteriness, shortbread, cream, and a slight spice typical of this brand. A few flavors are distinct but I can't quite name them. The finish is long, revealing more dark fruit and nutty notes.