Teeling Single Malt Red Wine Cask

My wife and I acquired this bottle during a visit to Total Wine in Delaware, not long after she returned with nine bottles of Irish Whiskey from Ireland. The first one we tried was Teeling Wonders of Wood Swedish Wood, which was excellent. Since I also enjoyed Teeling Blackpitts, a spirit very different from the Swedish Wood, Teeling had been performing well for me. This red wine-finished bottle is cask strength, and as I hadn't tried a Teeling Cask Strength before, and it was discounted from $90 to $75, which, given Delaware's lack of sales tax, seemed like a good opportunity. For this tasting, I'm following the same approach as when I opened Method and Madness Garryana Oak, doing a neck pour for St. Patrick's Day. I'm now tasting this Teeling, which, to be fair, has been open for months and is nearly empty. Generally, I've preferred this whiskey with a 1.5 oz pour and one small ice cube to temper its intensity, which might give you an idea of my usual approach. However, for this review, I'm tasting it neat, without any dilution. The only other review I saw mentioned the red wine influence being too intense, and I would agree when the bottle is first opened. Over time, as air enters the bottle, that intensity mellows. Now, during this tasting, the red wine aroma is nicely integrated into the whiskey. The aroma is predominantly cherries jubilee with an underlying vanilla custard and an additional sweetness reminiscent of maraschino liqueur. What I find amusing, of course, is the generic 'Red Wine Cask' labeling rather than specifying the wine type, like Cabernet, Syrah, or Pinot. Were various barrel styles used? It's somewhat unclear, which doesn't make it a bad whiskey, but for those seeking details... well, I suppose I could search online, but I'm opting for the easier route. In fact, the aroma is quite pleasant as a dessert whiskey, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it right now, even before dinner. On the palate, the cherry flavor persists, accompanied by a bit of ginger and clove spice, lending a mulled texture to the taste that isn't present on the nose. While the nose suggests dessert, the cherry here has a medicinal quality, like cherry cough drops, creating an unusual mulled wine sensation. The mouthfeel is thick and rich, transitioning into a mid-length finish that blends sweet and sour, resulting in an experience best described as red sour patch kids. Ultimately, I'm uncertain if all the elements harmonize perfectly, or perhaps they do, and it's simply an acquired taste? This is one of those whiskeys that has varied in my estimation throughout the bottle's life. At times I might have rated it 3.25, but today, feeling generous, I'm appreciating the combination of sour patch kids/sweet tart cherries jubilee mulled wine. If that sounds appealing to you, give it a try. If it sounds unappealing, this might not be your choice. And as a reminder of how subjective ratings can be (if you need one), I just rated the Method and Madness Garryana 3.75 and this a 4.0, even though I believe, objectively, the Garryana Method and Madness is a more intriguing whiskey, offering more nuance and subtlety for an enthusiast to contemplate. The best analogy would be that the M&M Garryana is avant-garde experimental music, while this is mainstream pop. The latter is more easily enjoyed in various settings, whereas the former requires time, effort, and perhaps quiet contemplation.

The red wine cask influence is excessive overall. The nose presents sweetness, with notes of berries, plum, oak, pineapple, cherry, and a heavy red wine character. The palate offers berries, ash, vanilla, oak, and grape jelly. The finish is smooth with a touch of spice.