Teeling The Revival 15 Year Single Malt (Volume I)

I've grown to appreciate Irish whiskey as a slight departure from Scotch. While tasting Irish whiskey, I must remember that although Irish and Scotch whiskey share the same origins, they are distinct; they are like cousins. With that in mind, I aim to compare like with like (or Irish with Irish) for comparison and to enhance my experience. That said, this Teeling ranks highly among my Irish whiskey experiences. It presents a pale straw color. The initial aroma is of tropical notes from the rum casks, which then transitions to sweet cereal reminiscent of Frosted Flakes, dried pineapple, and honey. It possesses a fitting sweetness. The first sip is immediately drying and spicy, causing an initial surprise given the sweet nose. The sweeter notes do emerge eventually, with pears, honey, vanilla, a touch of brown sugar, herbal notes of ginger, and a pine-like quality. A zingy sensation lingers on the palate with a medium-length finish. It's drying, carrying the previously experienced qualities of oak, pears, vanilla/honey, and ginger ale. As others have noted, it shares a Scotch-like Dalwhinnie quality with its cousins. However, it bears a closer, sibling-like resemblance to Knappogue Castle 14. It is a very enjoyable whiskey that feels natural and unforced. In my view, Teeling is establishing itself as a significant Irish producer, representing craft quality in Irish whiskey. Finally, I am very grateful for the generosity of a friend who allowed me the privilege of tasting this whiskey, along with many others that I would find difficult to obtain or encounter. Furthermore, I find that this community has genuinely fostered the appreciation of whisk(e)y for all of us. It is pleasing to witness the open sharing of each of our personal collections with great enthusiasm. [Dry Glass: Butterscotch][90/100][Tasted: 1/28/17]

Trying another Irish whiskey: Teeling Whiskey Co's The Revival. It's 15 years old and spent significant time in ex-rum casks. This one is bottled at 92 proof and has a straw yellow color in the glass. The aroma is quite strong, with vanilla and rum being very prominent. Behind the rum, subtle floral and sweet coconut notes are present. I had to swirl it vigorously and immediately get my nose in there to detect them, but they are there. On the palate, oak and spices hit you quickly, along with intense heat. The heat assaults the tongue but doesn't sting the nose like a cask strength. It's simply a long, zesty burn. It's remarkably different from any other Irish whiskey I've experienced. It's an eye opener and very pleasing. The finish is exceptionally long and hot. As your tongue finally starts to cool, a final, spicy blast remains that I actually had to chase with some water. Wow, now that's how an Irish whiskey ought to taste. Magnificent. I'm not certain about the cost of a full bottle or how hard it is to find. I would definitely like more, but I don't think I could handle more than a single small serving in one sitting. It's very potent stuff. Thank you to a friend for generously providing this delicious sample. Cheers.

Visual: A light amber/gold hue. Medium-bodied legs descend the glass slowly. Nose: A pleasant aroma of citrus, Juicy Fruit gum, vanilla, caramel, and baking spices, with a subtle earthiness. Palate: Sweet and rich, it lacks the grainy character of another spirit tasted concurrently. This one presents a darker, nuttier profile with tropical fruit undertones, reminiscent of papaya with an almost smoky quality, richness, and earthiness, much like the fruit from my own backyard tree. The same essence is captured in this spirit. Finish: The finish is moderately long and warming, as expected from the alcohol content, offering less sharpness than the other spirit, likely due to extended aging. It's also less harsh and contains infused barrel spices, lasting longer than the other spirit. A second whiff reveals more papaya notes. Empty glass: Hints of oak and toffee remain. This whiskey is highly enjoyable, and I wish it were available locally. If a 4+ or 5- rating were possible, I'd use it, but I'll settle for a strong, solid 4 stars.

I'm not a big admirer of Irish whiskey, but this one caught my attention. I had a taste of this tonight after a dram of Macallan 15 PX cask, and the differences were striking. This was certainly less refined, but more fruity and sweet. I actually couldn't detect any aromas, which was likely due to having just consumed the Macallan. On the palate, it was definitely sweeter—papayas, mangoes, and coconuts. It was quite smooth, leaving a sweet finish. Among the Irish whiskeys I've tried (Redbreast 12, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, and Teeling single grain), this was by far my favorite. I don't believe it's available in the US, but if your travels take you abroad, it's worth searching for.

Finished in muscat wine barrels for the final 12 months and aged for a total of 15 years. It possesses a wonderfully fruity flavor with excellent balance, smoothness, and a luscious mouthfeel. Limited to only 10,000 bottles. Recognized as Irish Whiskey of the Year in 2017 at the Irish Whiskey Awards. Nose: Sweet. The aroma is fresh and fruity with vibrant, ester-like notes of pear, pineapple, citrus peel, fresh apricots, lemon, and vanilla. Taste: Soft and medium-bodied, very smooth. Flavors include lemon, citrus peel, orange oil, lychee, crystallized stem ginger, and vanilla. Finish: Sweet, soft, and fruity. (This review was built upon published notes.)

Delightful scents of lemon and straw on the nose. A delicate fruity palate – reminiscent of melon and pear – which quickly yields to zesty wood and spice. The finish is lengthy, with a sweet flourish at the end. This is a complex whiskey that I would never have identified as Irish in a blind tasting. It's in the same category as the Yellow Spot I reach for when I desire something different. I'm another pleased recipient of the Pranay Whisky Wealth Redistribution Fund.