An Unconventional Irish Whiskey
Rising From The Ashes
Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Whiskey is inspired by the old ancient Blackpitts area just behind the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Blackpitts was the traditional home to some of the largest barley malting houses in Dublin, Ireland. By using smoke from peat to dry the barley during the malting process, the resulting peated malt produces a distinctive smoky taste profile which is the signature of a Peated Single Malt.
What makes Teeling Blackpitts so unique is the triple distillation process, which reduces some of the medicinal character you would get from a traditional Scottish Peated Single Malt and allows the more barbeque smoke characteristic to shine. This is then combined with signature Teeling innovative cask maturation using both ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes white wine casks, which is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration to produce a truly different and unique expression of Teeling and Irish Whiskey. The inspiration for the use of these casks came from a previous bottling of Teeling 24-Year-Old Single Malt which was honoured as the “World’s Best Single Malt” in 2019 at the World Whiskies Awards.
Using Sauternes Wine casks brings in deep fruit flavors, such as white grapes, pears and grilled pineapple. These notes perfectly complement the rich bourbon notes that make up two thirds of the ageing process. The sweetness that comes from the bourbon casks balances the subtle notes from the smoked dried barley.
The Origins of Irish Peated Whiskey
Peat is of course native to Ireland, and it would be naive to think that it was never historically used in the production of Irish whiskey.
Traditionally Irish whiskey is stereotyped as having a smoother finish in contrast to the smoky, earthy overtones most common to Scottish (Scotch) whisky. These flavour profiles come from drying the malted barley using Peat this became most popular in the malting process in Scotland and faded from away from the Irish whiskey for the most part. There are of course the exceptions to the rules in both countries. Examples include Connemara peated Irish malt (double distilled) whiskey, O’Connels Bill Phil, Pearse Lyons Whiskey from Pearse Lyons Distillery, Dunville’s peated from Echlinville Distillery and now Teeling.
“An inviting nose where barbeque smoke and cloves are intermingled with fresh notes of butterscotch and orange peel. On the palate a fascinating blend of Applewood smoke, honey and all spice are married with stewed pears and fresh grilled pineapple. This whiskey finishes with the return of a savoury smoke over a lingering wood undertone, which combines delightfully with notes of salted caramel.”
Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director of Teeling Whiskey
John Teeling was and still is a visionary in the Irish Whiskey industry, when he owned the Cooley Distillery he collaborated with Scottish distiller Gordon Mitchell (who later founded Arran Distillery in Scotland) to introduced the lost art of peated Irish whiskey. Alex Chasko was the head distiller in Cooley, he created Connemara as the only Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey widely available for a long time. Using this lost art adds a distinct peaty flavour and aroma, instilling a delicate smokiness and smooth, sweet taste, a perfect compliment to Irish Whiskey.
Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Whiskey Information:
Region: Ireland
Distiller: Teeling
Bonder: Teeling
Mashbill: Malted Barley
Cask: 66% Bourbon & 33% Wine Casks
Age: NAS
ABV: 46% – 92% Proof
Filtered: Non-Chill Filtered
Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Whiskey Tasting Notes:
Teeling Blackpitts Peated single Malt was matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-Suternes white wine casks and made using barley that had been dried over smoke created by burning peat or turf before being bottled at 46% alcohol by volume. I’m really looking forward to experiencing an aged expression of this whiskey and I’m sure this will be one to watch for many years.
NOSE
Sea salt and cocoa nibs, citrus peels, charcoal smoke and pear. The nose is a subtle meld of BBQ flavours.
PALATE
Some black pepper, yellow fruits, salted caramel, dark chocolate. It reminds me of a wooden barbecue scewer, with charred pineapple, ham, pears and charcoal flakes.
FINISH
Menthol, smoke, sweet fruits. The finish is medium at first, but as you sip a large glass the intensity grows. The smokey sweet pineapple flavors suddenly appear in the aftertaste and dissolve into a prickly pears affair. Charcoal smoke lingers on the tip of my tongue. It makes me reach for the ketchup, an FXB pork sausage and a hotdog bun, it’s BBQ time!!!
Where to Buy Teeling BlackPitts
Teeling Whiskey is on sale through the Celtic Whiskey Shop, link to purchase here, with an RRP of €60 on 22nd Oct 2020
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