Teeling Sommelier Selection Recioto Wine Cask

This is the fourth expression of Teeling's Sommelier series that I put to my lips. Earlier I tasted the Amarone, Margaux and Sauternes casks, today it is time for the Recioto wine cask. Recioto – in full Recioto della Valpolicalla – is a wine region around Verona in the northwest of Italy and is produced from concentrated, dried grapes. It is a deliciously sweet, red wine. And that will undoubtedly have a major influence on this Irish malt.

The nose starts to tickle on red fruit, but gradually darkens, if you know what I mean. Red berries turn blue and black, cherries and strawberries in a stew. There is also some honey in it with soft spices of the wood. A slight acidity, undoubtedly of the wine, is present. Fermenting grapes. Finally, a touch of milk chocolate.

The body is fine. Nice and oily. Immediately sweet op strawberries and red berries, with an uppercut of wood spices. Cinnamon, black pepper and cloves. Halfway through it starts to get quite dry. The wine obviously made its mark, but the whole thing remains very sweet which I see as an advantage. The milk chocolate returns, this time filled with strawberry jelly. And it works.

While the tannin further dries the mouth, it's the strawberry-flavored milk chocolate that lingers the longest.

I like whiskey, I like chocolate and I like strawberries. For me this is a very nice release, especially when you know that the price tag is around 45 EUR. Thx, Benny!