While vodka is clearly the most popular spirit in the states, Irish whiskey is on a surge and ready to take over. Irish whiskey has been said to be the fastest growing distilled spirit category in the world. So when I received an invitation to The Jeffery for a Teeling Whiskey tasting, I quickly jumped at the chance to learn about the spirit.
The Teeling family and Irish whiskey go back to 1782 when Walter Teeling set up his distillery in Dublin. Dublin has traditionally been the center of the Irish whiskey industry. Unfortunately, as Irish whiskey fell on hard times so did distilling in Dublin and the last still ran cold in 1976 until now.
Jack and Stephen Teeling are forging a new generation of Irish whiskey and paying homage to the traditions of Irish whiskey distillation. The brothers have founded the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years and are bringing the craft of distilling back into the very heart of Dublin.
After enjoying scrumptious bites served at The Jeffery, such as Red Beet Deviled Eggs, Sigmund’s Pretzels, and Smoked Turkey Sandwiches, co-founder, Jack Teeling invited members of the press to sample the new Teeling Whiskies.
A blend of malt and grain, the Teeling Small Batch is more of your traditional Irish whiskey. The small batch smells sweet with a hint of vanilla. With a higher percentage alcohol, it tastes smooth, sweet and slightly woody. This whiskey would be excellent for making that perfect Manhattan. Next up, was the Teeling Single Grain. It is fully matured in Californian red wine barrels resulting in an intensely fruity and beautifully amber liquid, with berry notes. While I adore red wine, I have to say, this was my least favorite type. Lastly, was the Teeling Single Malt. With flavors of citrus, vanilla, spice and cloves and exceptionally smooth finish, this single malt exceeded my expectations.
Twisted Talk: Have you tried Teeling Irish Whiskey before? What’s your favorite expression? Discuss below!
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