Teeling SIngle Cask Single Pot Still Sherry Cask

A look at two Teeling Irish whiskeys. I've been exploring Irish Whiskey more lately and Teeling has been a pleasant discovery. Their spirits show care and quality, blending heritage with new ideas. Teeling offers various bottlings, from the basic Rum Casks to Single Barrel and special editions. Below is a review of the two I've sampled from their collection. To ensure my judgment was sound, I opened three other bottles from different makers for context, making this a five-part comparison, though I didn't deeply analyze the non-Teeling whiskeys. Teeling Small Batch Rum Casks A medium straw hue (Pantone 124). The aroma presents tropical fruits like grapefruit, papaya, guava, and banana, alongside white raisins, fruitcake, gardenia, and some alcohol, with hints of vanilla. It surprisingly resembles a reposado tequila, which fits with the other notes. It also has a rum character, expected due to the rum cask finish. I detect a honey-lemon scent similar to a Hall's cough drop, minus the menthol (akin to the aroma of Nikka Coffey Malt, but less intense; I confirmed this by tasting the Nikka). The texture has some body, and the taste is very fruity, featuring more white raisins. The 46% ABV is present on the finish at a suitable level, with additional honey lemon, butterscotch, and vanilla notes, plus a faint espresso undertone (like sweetened espresso with a lemon twist). I enjoy this introductory Teeling, but it requires patience to open up (I spent almost 40 minutes nosing and tasting it). It feels unconventional, even with my developing experience in Irish Whiskey. Sipping it is like navigating a maze, with delightful surprises at every turn. Besides the Nikka Coffey Malt nose, it brings to mind a less intense version of Compass Box Hedonism (a bottling I've never liked or rated highly; I also opened it and found similarities, though the Compass Box was much richer and more vanilla-forward). Where else can you find a complex 46% ABV Irish whiskey that's non-chill filtered, mentally engaging, and under $40? I'd say nowhere but here. Will I purchase it again? Yes. I'll need a replacement soon (this review used the last dram from my bottle). 4.0 out of 5 stars.