Teeling 14: The Revival Vol. 3

Last review (from this trip) at Dingle Whiskey Bar. I’d go back if I could. Actually, if they want to fly me out, I’m down to do a bunch more reviews. Damn pesky ocean in the way.

As I said before, the Teeling: The Revival series was created in celebration of being the first distillery to have launched in Dublin proper in 125 years.

I decided that since I have Vol. 1 at home, and I’m probably not going to find Teeling 14: The Revival Vol. 3 in Canada, land of hating alcohol (well, my province at least) I better have it while I’m in the land of it’s making.

So what makes this different than others? Well, like the others, it’s aged a good amount of time (13 years or more), and then finished in some rare cask that makes you confused and wonder what it tastes. In this case, that cask is Pineau des Charentes.

I mean, I don’t have to explain Pineau des Charentes. We all drink it all the time, right? I mean, who doesn’t started a meal with this French fortified wine made from grape juice or lightly fermented grape must and then a Cognac eau-de-vie is then added. Of course.

So since that makes sense, let’s move on and see how this tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Ireland

Bottled: 2017

Number of Bottles: 10,000

Cask Types: Ex-bourbon, then finished in Pineau des Charentes Cask Finish

Abv: 46%

Colour: 7.5Y 9/8

Nose: Peach blossoms, violets, lemon zest, sod, butter, cherry hard candy

Initial floral nose. Really floral. Quite powerful, with lots of earth to back it up.

Pretty much smells like a really good garden. Eventually some fruit and butter comes out. Lighter than I normally like, may be too light for some.

Taste: Malt, hot chocolate, orange blossom, plum, creamed corn, caramel

Chocolate and orange, with floral elements. Not really my thing. There’s a nice malt kick, which I liked, but the chocolate and fruit, creamed corn elements… not my thing.

I don’t hate this. It’s just a combination that I’m not a fan of. If you’re into floral chocolate, orange chocolate, or fruit chocolates, then it may be for you. Not for me.

Granted you may like pineapple on pizza too, so you’re a weirdo (jokes).

Finish: Chocolate, perfume, clove, plum wine, malt, cedar

Finish is more floral and chocolate. It’s better here before there’s no orange. And that’s my bias, 100%. Some wood, some malt, and lots more chocolate.

Conclusion: Chocolate forward. I should love that. I should really love that. But there’s a lot of floral, citrus, and other notes that aren’t doing it favours. I mean, we all know that Pineau des Charentes has these flavours, but I wasn’t ready for them.

For those of you missing it, I’m being sarcastic. I’ve never drank this wine in my life.

This is a really interesting, unique whiskey. I’m happy to have had it, but it’s not for me. If you love chocolate and orange, add 5 points to my score. If you love floral elements even more than me, then maybe more.

77/100

World Whiskey review #244, Ireland review #62, Whiskey Network review #1064