Teeling Sommelier Selection Sauternes Wine Cask

Aha! The Sommelier Selection. I already tasted the Margaux Wine release, but Teeling launched this Sauternes Wine Cask version in 2021. I confess, I was looking forward to that. The whiskey consists of 80% grain and 20% malt and first matured for about 5 to 6 years in bourbon barrels before undergoing a finish of 3.5 years on the dessert wine barrels. So we speak of a whiskey that is already about 8 to 9 years old.

The first impression on the nose is one of honey. Lots of honey. And something dusty. I imagine myself in the attic. Sweetened farmer's butter. Candied stone fruit: mango and peach. Grapes, too. And something of almond shavings. Very civilized and very inviting.

The body is oily. The whiskey is nice and fruity, albeit very dry. Sweet sultanas, peach and apricot, hint of pineapple and a lot of lime. A little zesty, too. This is dangerously quaffable.

The finish is sweet and dry, gently seasoned and actually excellent.

There is beautiful Teeling, where the influence of the sweet wine is perfectly balanced with the DNA of the house. That was delicious! Thanks, Benny.