Teeling – Wonders of Wood #2

Personally, I love what Teeling is doing with their Wonders of Woods series. Not just because these drams offer up some stunning flavours, but also because of the story behind it. As whisky lovers we all know the wonders of cask influence and Teeling is exploring some lesser known types of oak for us to try with this series. Like this Teeling Wonders of Wood #2, which has ages in virgin Portuguese oak. But Teeling also uses this series to plant its own forrest of indigenous trees in Ireland, in an effort to help the environment.

We’ve seen it with Talisker and their Parley for the Ocean releases, and with Uhuru with the Tusk foundation. I think it’s a beautiful thing when distilleries decide to give back to the environment and having an excuse to buy another bottle of whisky (as it’s for a good cause) is always welcomed by me. But this Pot Still whisky with 50% malted and 50% unmalted barley is more than just charity, it’s also an excellent whisky in its own right!

Tasting Notes: Teeling – Wonders of Wood #2

Stats:

ABV: 50% (100 proof)

Age: NAS

Distillery: Teeling Whiskey Company

Cask: Virgin Portuguese Oak

Category: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Chill-Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Yes

Nose:

Notes of sandalwood and steaming hot cedar planks remind me of stepping into a sauna. Yellow grapes, raisins and black tea add to the general sense of this being a very warming dram. Perfect for winter. Pears and candied orange peel add some more fruit to this dram, but it’s the wooden notes that reign supreme in the end.

Palate:

It’s easy to spot that this was aged in virgin oak, as it’s vaguely reminiscent of a bourbon in that regard. It’s full of flavours such as vanilla, caramel, and molasses. But there are also some notes that don’t quite fit that bill, which I’d personally attest to the pot still influences. There’s some hot porridge with raisins, some cinnamon, and some shortbread cookies. A hefty palate for sure, but a very pleasant and warming one as well.

Finish:

The finish has a medium length and doubles down on the black tea note I was finding on the nose of this dram. The molasses linger for a long time as well and the tannic influences turn into a liquorice note. Just a hint of apples appears as well, but it’s only ever so slight. It does leave the mouth a tad dry.

Verdict:

Supporting charity by drinking whisky? Count me in! But in all seriousness, this Teeling Wonders of Wood #2 is just a seriously delicious dram that I would have picked up either way. The virgin Portuguese oak has a profound effect on this typically Irish whiskey, making it stand out very clearly amongst its peers. Whether it stands out in a good way depends on who you’re asking ofcourse, but I for one am quickly pouring myself another dram of this gem!