Teeling Pot Still for Germany

This Teeling Pot Still (which means that the recipe consists of both malted and unmalted barley) matured on a sherry cask. However, there is no mention of what type of sherry it is. Challenge accepted! The single cask – that yielded 330 bottles on a nearly 61%! – was bottled for the German market.

The nose begins rather closed and relatively herbal. I am initially made aware of notes of broth and walnuts before the fruit slowly but surely shows itself. Once that is done, I am delighted with the aroma of all kinds of berries and cherries, figs and a single plum. Beautiful notes of tarragon and chervil that are so typical of this style, are further complemented by something of pine wood and a soft pepper. Nice.

Silky smooth. I look at the ABV. It's not a typo. This is at almost 61% and yet this whiskey absolutely does not burn. Talk about good integration. But it has to be said: it is a bit oaky. The fruit – the cherries and berries are still there – must surely bow to some notes of the wood, which quickly begin to dominate. Midpalate, I get some espresso, Café Noir cookies, walnuts and nougat. The chervil and tarragon assert themselves and shout 'Pot Still, Pot Still!'. They are right.

The finish is medium-long, gently drying with nuts and raisins at the end, which finally deliver a touch of coffee incorrectly with mocha powder.

Good, but a little less wood would have been even better. And a little dirty, those Germans like that. Thanks again, Benny!