Tasting: Teeling The Revival III 14 yo 2002 – Pineau Des Charentes finish

Teeling The Revival III 14 yo 2002 - Pineau Des Charentes finish

Teeling The Revival III 14 yo 2002 - Pineau Des Charentes finishDram data:
Distillery: not stated (most likely Cooley)
Bottler: Teeling
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: 2016/2017
Age: 14 years
Limitation: 10000 bottles
Casks: Ex-bourbon and Pineau Des Charentes finish
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Oh, a surprise package from the Teeling Distillery guys and gals in Ireland, err, I mean, the #whiskyfairy, of course! The third edition in their “Revival” series was finished in French casks which previously contained a fortified wine, “Pineau Des Charentes”. Let’s see how well the French and the Irish cooperate!

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 gold
The nose opens light and Irish, just as expected. Another rather subtle finish, which is good, as wine finishes can get very overpowering. Sweet vanilla mixed with malt, honey and grape juice, with a few more fruits mixed in – red apples, juicy pears, mango, caramelised orange peel, possibly a cheeky lychee and a juicy peach. As time moves on, a richer, thicker, darker background note emerges. The official tasting notes speak of chocolate and nuts – I’d describe it more as a rich, mixed dark-fruit component. Overall very settled-down and mellow, not overpowering – in a word, Irish. 20 minutes later: Oh, even more dark fruits (and perhaps a hint of nuts), this is a transformer whiskey! Don’t rush it! On to the palate!  Continue reading “Tasting: Teeling The Revival III 14 yo 2002 – Pineau Des Charentes finish”

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Tasting: Inchgower 2002 – 2016 by G&M Connoisseur’s Choice

Inchgower 2002 - 2016 by G&M Connoisseur's Choice

Inchgower 2002 - 2016 by G&M Connoisseur's ChoiceDram data:
Distillery: Inchgower
Bottler: Gordon & Macphail
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: 06.05.2016
Age: ca. 14 years
Limitation: –
Casks: refill sherry hogsheads
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured

It’s been a while since I last had an Inchgower – they’re not a very prominent distillery in the whisky shops, with no widely available official release by Diageo we have to rely on the independent bottlers!

Tasting notes:
Colour: red gold
The nose starts off fruity and aromatic. Not an in-your-face sherried whisky, it shows an elegant restraint, yet still loads of character. Apple and pear compote (including slightly green peel) with honey and the odd dried date thrown in. There’s also a hint of honey-covered crunchy muesli in the background with a whiff of fragrant oak. Oh, and a cinnamon stick and exactly two cloves. Fruity, but not overly sweet – the magic of good refill casks! Let’s check the palate now! Continue reading “Tasting: Inchgower 2002 – 2016 by G&M Connoisseur’s Choice”

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Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finish

Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finish

Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finishDram data:
Distillery: most likely Cooley (undisclosed)
Bottler: Teeling
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: 2016
Age: 13 years
Limitation: 10.000 bottles
Casks: 12 years ex-bourbon, 1 year Calvados casks
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered; uncoloured

Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: 
golden white wine
Calvados-matured/finished whisk(e)y is a very uncommon thing. Apart from a Springbank, which I really liked, and sadly didn’t review, I don’t think I’ve ever had another. Until today, that is, tasting this Irish whiskey by the Teeling company, finished for a year in Calvados casks after an initial 12-year bourbon maturation. What do I expect? A few apple-ish notes and perhaps spices from the French casks (if they used French oak, that is…) Let’s stick the nose in! Light, with a whiff of alcohol (though that might be the glass with the very narrow opening) and, yes, light “continental European” fruits. Ripe red apples, red, juicy pears, also baked apples stuffed with cinnamon sugar and a clove or two, slightly grassy apple peel, cake frosting with a splash of lemon, mixed tinned fruits in glucose syrup.

Continue reading “Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finish”

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Tasting: Longrow 12y 2002-2015 by Cadenhead’s

Longrow 12y 2002-2015 by Cadenhead's

Longrow 12y 2002-2015 by Cadenhead'sDram data:
Distillery: Springbank
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: April 2015
Age: 12 years
Limitation: 288 bottles
Casks: Ex-Sherry
Alcohol: 53,1%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
amber
The nose opens a bit high on the alcohol at first, but this impression fades after a minute or two, revealing a rich and dark, oily, heavy dram. Motor oil, earthy dunnage warehouse floor, rich oak, almost burnt caramel, brine, creamy fudge, with peat smoke in the background – it really has a hard time fighting through all the heavy notes. Continue reading “Tasting: Longrow 12y 2002-2015 by Cadenhead’s”

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