A cracking release from Teeling, joining its Small Batch Collaborations series, this expression sees its Small Batch blended Irish whiskey treated to a finish in Dark Porter casks from Dublin based brewery, Dot Brew. But where did Dot Brew get the casks from, to mature its delicious porter? It's friends at Teeling of course! A selection of ex-Central American rum casks, previously used to marry Teeling Small Batch were filled up with glorious dark beer. Finally, the casks were emptied once again, and headed back over to Teeling to be filled back up with Small Batch, so the whiskey could finish up amongst the rich, dark, chocolatey malt notes from the porter. A splendid collab between neighbours, and ought to pair very nicely with a good dark beer.
Rich dark chocolate, treacle, whispers of vanilla, and hoppy malt.
Burnt caramel and earthen coffee tangle with sweet baking spices and distant, floral berries.
Hoppy, herbal notes develop in the depths, with crackles of woody spice and zingy orange peels. Hearty malt, sweet toffee, and cocoa linger.
I bought this on special offer not sure what to expect. Turns out this is a beautifully smooth whiskey with some interesting and subtle notes in the flavours. I definitely got the treacle and malt on the nose, and the caramel initial burst with a hint of hops, with the woodiness and the spicy chocolate finish - much the way you would the flavours from a sherry cask malt. If you want something a bit different, but don't want to go down the wine/sherry cask route, then this is a good one to try.
I get the hoppy malt flavour from the Porter with just a hint of underlying toffee, but nothing too overpowering that it spoils the taste of the Whiskey.
