Teeling Small Batch whiskey review
Read our review of Teeling Small Batch, an Irish whiskey that's aged in rum barrels. Discover its flavour and aroma profile, plus serving suggestions.
All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more and read about how we write BBC Good Food reviews.
Teeling Small Batch whiskey, 46% ABV
Star rating: 4/5
Teeling Small Batch has no age statement, but is made with whiskies that are up to six-years-old. While it's said to be made with a pleasingly high proportion of malt to grain, there's no definitive labelling on that front.
The whiskey is not chill-filtered and is bottled at 46%. All pretty standard so far, but what sets it apart from others is the rum barrel finish – it spends six months in casks from Central America. On the nose you get lots of vanilla, soft fudge and toffee, brown sugar, sweet apple and floral notes amongst the spice.
On the palate, the whiskey is light, with an ever-present note of dark sugar. Smooth, with a tiny prickle of heat, you also get hints of banana, apple, lots of nutmeg and vanilla. The finish has a woody note that keeps all that sweetness in check.
The complexity is fascinating, tending towards the character of rum. It echoes the brand's rich family history, which goes back to the 18th century when Walter Teeling founded a distillery in Dublin, inspiring his descendent John Teeling to do the same in 1987.
John's sons continue the work and together, they've been an important part of the revival of Irish whiskey over the last thirty years. In 2015 their new Teeling distillery in The Liberties, Dublin, began operations using unusual cask finishes to keep things fresh.
The perfect pour
For a sipping whiskey, a simple ice cube would set Teeling Small Batch off nicely. However, cocktails seem a natural playing ground, as you have those notes of dark sugar and light spice to play with.
It's an ideal base for Irish coffee sweetened with muscovado sugar. Split it with a rum for an Irish spin on a daiquiri, or just explore the kinship with ginger beer and lime.
More on whiskey
Whisky or whiskey – what's the difference?
Our best ever whiskey cocktails
Top 10 ways to cook with whiskey
Related reviews
The best Scotch
The best whisky from around the world
The best bourbon
The best craft whiskies
All our gin taste tests
The best mezcal
The best rum
For more including the best rye whiskey and 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section.
Do you have an Irish whiskey you love? Share your product suggestions with us. Leave a comment below...
This review was last updated in August 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Comments, questions and tips
