Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Teeling Single Grain Cabernet Cask Finish

Epic whiskey, like JCVD

0 382

@RantavahtiReview by @Rantavahti

3rd Feb 2015

0

Teeling Single Grain Cabernet Cask Finish
  • Nose
    21
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    19
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    82

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Teeling Single Grain with a red wine finish is non-chill filtered and it has no added colour. Not the most usual dram, you will bump into. Single grain whisky with a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon cask finish.

This Irish whiskey has the minimum age of 6 years. First, it felt like it was going to be like a bad blended grain whisky. Fortunately after a watery start in the nose, it started to show some character, like a good malt or rye whisky usually does.

Not a complex dram, but epic. Keeping you on your toes – like watching JCVD the movie. Where Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself as a actor out of luck. And the first thing that comes to mind: "okay, it is going to be another 'Van Damme kicking' film". But no, it is witty and original.

With some kicking of course. But it's in a funny and original plot. That's what this Teeling Single Grain whiskey also does. It is JCVD.

Nose: Watery and stingy first, very grainy. Fortunately the grains fade away quickly, giving room for smooth and soft wine with red grapes and vanilla. Sweetness is mixed with spices. Resembles rye a lot. Water brings out sweet Cabernet even more.

Taste: For a brief moment, again it feels like a bad grain blend watery taste. Nicely enough it turns into buttery and sweet notes. And in the end, spices resembling rye again. Berries and fruits with spices. Water brings out more sweetness and red wine on the palate.

Finish: Medium in length. Dry and sour with berries. Spices running quickly down the throat.

Balance: A straight shooter, giving brief warnings of bad grain, but thankfully turns into sweet and spicy character. Irish whiskey with a "rye kinda feel" and that's probably, what makes me like it more than I otherwise would.

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

Related Teeling reviews

Read more Teeling whisky reviews

3 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

Very curious. This sounds like one that I would have to taste for myself in order to get to know. That is interesting that this whiskey tends toward the watery side even at 46% abv. That is certainly not an appealing quality.

9 years ago 0

@Rantavahti
Rantavahti commented

I was keen on trying different single grain whiskies after the Whisky Advocate story about them. This Teeling (even though not in the list) felt appealing because of the finish and it was my first ever encounter with single grain. To be honest, I'm not sure, if I want to try more of them (well, I'm ready for sampling of course but buying a whole bottle, that's another case...) while with rye whisky for example, I immediately fell in love with.

Curiosity about the "Ten Single Grains To Try" list by Ian Buxton: Haig Club got into that list, which was weird because that 40% ABV single grain made famous by David Beckham hasn't gotten much good reviews. Buxton did mention that you should try it just because it's unusual but still, feels "fishy"...

9 years ago 0

@cherylnifer
cherylnifer commented

I expect more out of the Teeling myself. IMHO, they did a beautiful job with the Greenore 8yo and 18yo grain whiskies when they owned/operated Cooley Distillery. I also suspect the Teeling's walked away with a fair amount of both irish and grain whiskey stock when Cooley was sold to Beam. That said, I have never found Greenore especially complex; just very enjoyable to sip on.

9 years ago 0