Teeling Single Malt 30 years old, Vintage Reserve Collection/ 46%/ 0.7l

Teeling Vintage Reserve debuted in 2016 with a 24-year-old edition. It was a whiskey distilled at the Cooley distillery in 1991, finished in Sauternes barrels.

In March 2020, another Vintage Reserve Collection entry was released, this time 28 years old (also distilled in 1991 and finished in Sauternes barrels). Both were huge successes, with the 24-year-old being voted “Whisky of the Year 2019” in the World Whisky Awards, and its older sister being named “Best Irish Whiskey of the Year” two years later. The third edition of the Vintage Reserve Collection presented here is a whiskey distilled also at the Cooley Distillery in 1991, then aged for 21 years in bourbon barrels and finished for another nine in Sauternes barrels. 4,000 bottles were released.

Aroma: intensely fruity, apricots, peaches, nectarines, lychee, quince jam, milk chocolate, honey nuts, vanilla, coconut flakes, cinnamon, cloves and a fleeting trace of smoke.

Palate : very mild, juicy peaches and apricots, pineapples, orange peel, sultanas, vanilla, honey, marzipan, almond croissant, allspice and a little oak.

Finish : very long, with notes of tropical fruits, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, a touch of candied ginger and oak tannins.