The third and final sibling in Teeling’s premium range of NAS whiskies is the Single Malt expression introduced not so long ago. The malt in fact, is a fusion of whiskies young and some old, dated as far back as 1991. So essentially what you get is this odd combination of double distilled older whiskies from the Cooleys and triple distilled younger spirits distilled using the more recent copper pot stills at the distillery, each of which by the way are named after Jack Teeling’s daughters.

Matured seperately in a variety of wine barrels – Sherry, Port, Madeira, Cabernet Sauvignon and White Burgundy. They are then married together for a few months before being shipped off to a whisky tumbler near you!

The bottling is kept at the traditional Teeling 46%, with no artificial colouring, void of any chill filteration. And I might be a bit biased here, but I really do love how the distillery remains very rooted to the Irish traditions of making whiskey, though yet very much keeping with the times – with innovation and creativity part of their daily arsenal.

The distillery and its produce aren’t new to awards and in the last six years of its being it has garnered a lot of recognition. But with that comes a huge expectation to perform, and a much larger reason to deliver.

ABV: 46%

Eye: Gold

Nose: Honey, vanilla, burnt butter and fluffy marshmallows, tossed along with milk chocolate, bits of melon, coconut shards and a hint of marmalade. Grassy notes, green pepper, sun-dried tomatoes followed by some carbon and spice.

Taste: Caramel toffee with the richness of cream and butter and a drizzle of honey. Dark chocolate shavings, fused with orange peel twirls and slices of strawberry.

Finish : Medium to short – fruit jam with a mild spice.

The Teeling is light and crisp with a silky feel pleasantly left on the palate. It isn’t complicated and yet inherits a fine balance of sweetness with sufficient depth and a penchancy for butter and cream that makes this whiskey quite desirable. If I were to complain, it would be its mildly rough nature, owing to the younger whiskies that make up this malt.

All in all, a versatile whisky fitting perfectly as a daily dram, a gateway whiskey, or one to be poured and sipped after putting the kids to sleep.

Preference : A splash of water, bundled with a couple of rocks or infused in cocktail, this single malt is not shy with company and for the cost (AUD $84) it’s not overly expensive. Give it a shot, I’m sure you can’t really go wrong with a Teeling!

Sláinte!