Grain whiskey rarely gets the spotlight it deserves, so when a bottle manages to carve out genuine respect in the market, it’s worth paying attention.
Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey is one of those bottles. I’ll admit I’m late to the party with this review, having picked it up about a year ago, but in that time I’ve lived with it, shared it, and mixed with it enough to form a considered opinion.
At 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and fully matured in ex-Californian Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, this is not your typical grain whiskey. And that alone makes it worth discussing.
What immediately sets this release apart is its maturation. The overwhelming majority of grain whiskey, whether Scottish or American, sees time in virgin oak or ex-bourbon casks. Occasionally, you’ll find something finished in sherry wood, but Cabernet Sauvignon barrels are genuinely unusual.
It’s a bold choice from Teeling, a brand that has quickly become one of Ireland’s most accessible and popular names.
The result on the nose is genuinely impressive: waves of spiced caramel, vanilla, toffee, nutmeg, and a wonderful medley of red berry compote. I’ve never knowingly tried Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine, but if this is the profile those barrels offer, I’m quite interested in seeing them used more widely.
There is, however, a persistent acetone note sitting on top of everything. It’s that sharp, almost nail varnish remover character that can be endemic to grain whiskey. I’ve poured this for people who were immediately put off by it, assuming the liquid was far more aggressive than it actually is.
On the palate, the story shifts. It’s characteristically light, sweet, and super approachable. The spiced caramel carries through, along with those cherry and berry jam notes, and the finish is delicate but genuinely warming. The problem is that it falls a little flat compared to the nose. The nose promises complexity that the palate doesn’t quite deliver.
That said, it is an incredibly easy-drinking whiskey, and I wouldn’t describe it as offensive in any way. Over the course of the bottle, it has also proven itself a fantastic cocktail ingredient. It makes a fabulous whiskey sour and an excellent highball with ginger beer and lime if you want a slightly boozier take on the classic Jameson’s serve.
Overall, I’d give the Teeling Single Grain a seven out of ten. It’s approachable, interesting, and a genuinely great introduction to the world of single grain whiskey. The price has crept up from around £42 to £46, though in fairness, everything has gone up lately.
If someone gave me the choice between this and the regular Teeling Small Batch, I’d probably lean towards the Small Batch, or perhaps one of their more experimental releases.
But for anyone curious about what grain whiskey can be, or for someone looking to ease newcomers into the category, this is a thoroughly solid pick. Have you tried the Teeling Single Grain, and if so, did that acetone note bother you, or did the sweetness win you over?
For my full tasting, you can watch my new YouTube video.
Read the full article at Teeling Single Grain: A Bold Cask Experiment That Almost Delivers
