Teeling Small Batch
Dublin Rum Baba - "Budget Blind Tasting" Part III
2 081
Review by @cricklewood
- Nose22
- Taste20
- Finish21
- Balance18
- Overall81
Show rating data charts
Distribution of ratings for this:
The final review of the budget trifecta from my club's blind tasting in March.
I chose this for a myriad of reasons, I knew I wanted to throw a blend into the mix and an Irish blended whisky was the curve ball I needed. Besides the Teeling Single Malt was extremely well received in a past session and was curious to see if the blend would be of similar quality.
Yes I'm getting on with it.
Nose: It's rather sweet on opening, coton candy, caramel corn, then shows its youth and grain with varnish and copper smell.
Rising dough, vanilla, banana chips, trail mix. There's a feeling of celery and lanolin.
Palate: much like the nose to begin with, sweet things, cotton candy, creamy vanilla, caramel, underripe banana. A slight feeling of violets like a popular brand of fabric softener, brioche and a hint of mozzarella cheese, all of this is sitting on a fairly grain forward blanket.
Finish: barrel char, heavy cream and Rhum Baba. The texture is oily but it doesn't end too sweet despite the sweet aromas.
During my blind tastings, I thought this was the Deanston Virgin oak. How wrong was I?
All things told, it has some interesting nuances but it's fairly rough at times strange and probably quite young. The abv which is an asset in the Teeling Single malt, is definitely highlighting the rawness.
This faired decently among the group with only one person saying it didn't feel like Scotch, all agreed it was a bit rough. I think It's decent if a bit high priced compared to other Irish blends.