Teeling 15-Year-Old Single Grain Bring The Apples and the Citrus Home

Teeling Distillery regularly releases new whiskies. With every aged single grain Irish whiskey, the distillery strives for a distinctive flavor. This time, they’ve harnessed the influence of ex-Sauvignon Blanc casks. Welcome to the Teeling 15 Year Old Single Grain Review.

Teeling has been crafting spirits for generations. Back in 1782, Walter Teeling began distilling in Dublin: a tradition later generations were eager to continue. Jack and Stephen Teeling both worked at Cooley Distillery, founded by their father John in 1987. A few years on, Jack and Stephen decided it was time to carry their forebear’s legacy forward and strike out on their own.

In 2012, the new Teeling Whiskey Distillery opened its doors in the heart of Dublin, just a stone’s throw from where Walter Teeling once ran his stills. The distillery’s mission is to craft unique whiskeys with real character. For over eleven years now they’ve taken inspiration from traditional distillation, while pushing boundaries with fresh ideas. The latest result is the brand’s new limited edition: Teeling 15 Year Old Single Grain whiskey.

Where Teeling’s first aged single grain whiskey showcased the influence of Bordeaux red wine casks, this release takes a very different path. It has been matured in ex-Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks, delivering a completely different flavor profile.

On the nose, Teeling 15 Year Old Single Grain comes across wonderfully sweet and fruity. First up is a fresh hit of apple and a hint of honey, quickly followed by the whiskey’s other aromas. You’ll already catch the pear promised in the tasting notes. Alongside honeydew melon and vanilla, this single grain whiskey caresses the palate from the very first sip.

Let it rest on your tongue for a moment and you’ll soon notice a lively tingle of pepper weaving through the sweetness. You’ll also pick up the distinctive mash bill, 95 percent corn and 5 percent malted barley, that Teeling used to craft this whiskey. It’s a calling card that’s anything but unwelcome.

As you say goodbye to that fruity, peppered mouthful, you’ll find Teeling leaves a touch of dryness behind. It’s a fitting finish to a beautifully balanced whiskey, where the white wine cask influence is clearly present yet never overpowering.

With the Teeling 15 Year Old Single Grain, Teeling has delivered an exceptionally approachable Irish whiskey for both newcomers and seasoned drinkers. It’s sweet, but never cloying, with a gentle spicy note that, together with the fruit, leads into a slightly dry finish. From nose to finish, it’s impressively well-balanced.

At every stage you can clearly tell it’s seen time in white wine casks, yet that influence never dominates. It’s a whiskey that ushers in summer with style. That said, at 110 euros, the price puts it up against two other excellent Teelings.

+ Exceptionally well-balanced

+ Smooth finish

+ White wine casks are clearly present, but not overpowering

- Relatively expensive