Teeling Bordeaux Red Wine Cask

Teeling Distillery was founded in 2015 and was the first new distillery to open in Dublin in 125 years. It was founded by Stephen and Jack Teeling, sons of the legendary John Teeling, all ancestors of the Walter Teeling who operated a distillery in Dublin in the late 18th Century. Having worked for their father in the monopoly-breaking Cooley Distillery before he sold it, Jack and Stephen brought experience and supplies with them to launch their own brand. Besides a number of core offerings, Teeling will sometimes offer barrel picks to specific liquor retailers like Binny’s Beverage Depot, a family liquor store chain in the US state of Illinois. This Teeling Bordeaux Red Wine Cask is one such pick, a single malt entirely matured in the ex-wine casks rather than the more traditional finish, and bottled at cask strength.

Distillery: Teeling
Country: Ireland
Age: NAS
Strength: 58.8%
Price: $89.99
Maturation: ex-Bordeaux red wine cask
Barrel: Cask #35340, hand selected by Binny’s in Chicago.
Location: Dublin
Nose: Pear, grain, blackberry, concord grape, perfume, mission fig, raisin, vanilla, brown sugar
Palate: Wine, vanilla, brown sugar
Finish: Perfume, brown sugar

Comments: Because of the proofage, consider some kind of water (frozen or not) to temper. 

Adam – I’m not some sadist who thinks only high-proof whiskies can be good and I have noticed my appreciation for stronger abv percentages has increased over the years, but I’m also not afraid to say that this Teeling Bordeaux is too much right out of the bottle. Strong fruit on the nose, especially grape, coupled with some brown sugar at a slightly different angle of the glass. Somewhere the two meet and turn into dried fig. The mouthfeel is viscious, syrupy, carrying the brown sugar from the nose through the palate into the finish. We’ve tried similar proofages without issue but I think the youth of the spirit coupled with the intensity makes truly appreciating it a challenge. Some water really does help in this case. With several drops, the nose is much more approachable and against all odds actually becomes more complex rather than the other way around. Much more floral now, which I enjoy, with some grains and pear. The palate becomes very red wine-forward, though I could in no way claim to recognize it as a Bordeaux, with the perfume from the nose reappearing in the finish. Though less intense, there is very sweet line even when watered. A very fascinating dram to analyze and appreciate, as I think the Bordeaux finish really has a big effect that’s fun to tease apart but I don’t like having to work so hard to get to something approachable, especially when I’ve had more balanced and crafted Teeling products before. 

Henry – A tangled nose of dark fruit (blackberry, mission fig, and raisin) with perfume, vanilla, and Concord grape. On the palate, winey notes blend with brown sugar, and vanilla, with the perfume carrying through to the finish.

Ben – The nose reminds me of fruity breakfast cereal and I don’t think it’s a bad thing, either. Not brand specific but definitely a kid’s cereal. The fruit got bigger on the palate with some water. I’m all in on this Teeling Bordeaux, I love it.

Bill – Dusty quality on the nose. Wooden, dusty, almost hits the back of my palate very dry from the nose. Probably part of the wine cask. I’m not sure it’s a winner, after tasting it. This is a need-water whiskey. Even a drop or two takes the edge off of that heat and allows the flavors to open up. It’s all there. I’d be tempted to drop in one or two small ice cubes if I was having this in a rocks glass. Smelling the empty glass after I’m done, it’s just heavenly.

Mike – It’s reminding me of a sweet bourbon, like a Four Roses. You get a lot dusty notes and sweetness that come out that remind me of a Kentucky bourbon. I get the fruit funk on the finish, which you’d expect from a wine finish. Wine funk? I feel lke the nose was better than the palate because it was more complex.