Teeling Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum Cask Whiskey Review

Another Teeling collaboration, this time featuring a collab between Teeling and Plantation Rum.

Teeling were honoured to be the first distillery to receive a selection of the award-winning, unique, Plantation Rum Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum Casks and use them to marry our own Small Batch Whiskey. This limited edition whiskey brings the two worlds of Irish whiskey and Caribbean rum together and reaffirms our dedication to crafting the most unique expressions of Irish whiskey. Bottled at 49.2% ABV.

Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Rum

A fantastic treat from the Plantation range originally created by the company’s cellar master Alexandre Gabriel and drinks historian David Wondrich for Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans in 2015. To make it, they infuse the rinds of Queen Victoria pineapples in their white rum for a week then distil it, and infuse the fruit of the pineapples in dark rum for three months. These are married together and left to age in casks for three months. Pineapple deliciousness galore!

Also, if you’re wondering about the name, it comes from the character Reverend Stiggins in Pickwick Papers, whose favourite drink was ‘pineapple rum’.

“An exciting new release from the team at Teeling! Here we have an addition to the Teeling collaboration series, this time featuring a collab between Teeling and Plantation Rum. This small batch release features a premium blend of grain and malt whiskey which has been matured separately in ex-bourbon barrels for a period of 6 years before being carried in Plantation Pineapple Rum Barrels for a further period of 15 months.”
Jack Teeling

Tasting Notes: Teeling Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum Cask

Pineapple flavored rum is made by blending together a white rum blend, and bare pineapples rinds that were macerated in for 1 week and then the remaining spirit re-distilled. Following that a dark rum blend of ripe pineapple flesh that was infused for 3 months is added. This dark and white rum blend is matured for another 3 months in wooden casks. Before bottling the liquid juice is reduced to 40% abv, sugared with 20 gramms per liter and then colored with a little E150a. The full story is fascinating read it here… Teeling Whiskey then use these casks for finishing their small batch whiskey

Pineapple, of course! Followed by a nice Irish palate incl. finish. This is really one of the better rum finishes, that we can find these days and it is perfect for whiskey cocktails. Well done!

Nose

One of the most exciting fresh fruit bursts you are likely to find. Lots of earthy pineapple husk, sharp citrus and chewy toffee.

Taste

This juice is a delicious melody of ripe pineapple, tart citrus and little dash bitter orange. Some light umami that is almost confusing as it makes me think of BBQ or cured meats.

Finish

As expected, a beautiful burst of fresh pineapple and wood spices on the finish. Dark molasses and more bitter orange. Yellow fruits and green grain fizzle into black pepper prickly pineapple.

Where to drink: Teeling Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum Cask

Drop into the distillery as the small batch is limited to a reasonable number of 3750 bottles only. Is seems like a lot but this might be one of my favorite whiskeys of 2020 and I want them all!!!