Teeling 18 Year Old The Renaissance Series No 1 – Madeira Cask Finish

This new Teeling is the first in the so-called Renaissance Series and matured for no less than 18 years, mostly on bourbon casks, before it got a finish for 18 months on Madeira casks. No less that 9.000 bottles at drinking strength were released.

The nose is simply outstanding. Silky soft on all kinds of overripe fruit with apples, figs and raisins. Strawberry and kumquat in the background, the whole sprinkled with a little cinnamon. Some farmer’s butter and toffee in the back. A mild floral note completes the picture.

It is equally soft on the palate, although a warm note of cloves immediately dots the I’s. Toffee apples, strawberry sweets, dried apricots and rosewater. Some late cinnamon. Turns quite glühwein-y all of a sudden, but it’s no punishment. Baked banana appears, as does a lot of cherry juice. Good, winters, inviting. I’m a fan!

Some maraschino cherries appear in the long, somewhat drying finish.

Irish glühwein on steroids, I love it! A top dram from Teeling, that will set you back some 130 EUR. Thanks for the sample, Benny!