What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)
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Teeling 13 Year Old Single Grain.
€85.
50% abv.
When we think of Irish whiskey we tend to think of Pot still or Single Malt. However single grain is actually the most produced Irish whiskey by volume due to blends like Jameson and Tullamore Dew. As a category in its own right Single grain has seen some growth recently with a number of new releases.
One such release is Teeling 13 Year Old Single Grain. Made from a mash bill of 95% corn and 5% malted barley and aged in bourbon casks for 9 years before being matured for another 4 years in ex Bordeaux red wine casks. This is Teelings second grain release since their core Single Grain expression which was released in 2013.
Grain whiskey is often seen as cheaper and less complex than pot still or single malt. This is something I would agree with and a lot of single grain whiskey is very light which I would see as something to sip during the summer months. It works better for me when it's aged a bit longer.
Notes of summer fruits, vanilla, orchard fruits, honey and lots of spice. This is a step above the regular teeling Single grain with the longer maturation and Bordeaux finish giving the whiskey a little more character. I don't think I would buy a full bottle for the price asked but an interesting release nonetheless.
Post edited by Cazale on5 -
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Speaking of Green Spot....
Green Spot 1990s Bottling
€130-170 at auction
40% abv
It seems surprising now but there was a time when Green Spot was virtually an unknown whiskey outside of Ireland. I’ve read and heard tales of tourists filling their suitcases with bottles of the stuff after making the trek to the Mitchell and Son shop in Dublin which was about the only place it could be found.
The current version of Green Spot is a favorite of mine and is thankfully ubiquitous in both stock and supply throughout the country. Green apples, fresh cut grass, sweet vanilla. Delicate and smooth with a spicyness on the finish. Made from a combination of 7-9 year old whiskey which was matured in 75% ex bourbon and 25% Sherry casks. A great example of a modern Irish Pot still.
This sample tonight is one from the early 1990s and it’ll be interesting to see how it stacks up against its modern iteration. Straight away its obvious this is a different beast. Peppermint, Coconut, vanilla toffee, limes, menthol. No apple! The delicateness is gone and an older pot still style emerges of leather, oil and spice. A lot more spice. This is a wonderful whiskey and I can see why people would have sought it out.
Of the two versions I think this is the nicer whiskey. It’s that different though that you could probably classify them as different whiskeys. A bottle of each would be most welcomed.
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