Teeling Small Batch Review

Jameson is the Irish whiskey most people know. Teeling is the one that shows up when people say they want something a bit different without leaving Ireland.

It also happens to be a name with a long family history and a recent comeback.

The comeback

The Teeling family has been making whiskey in Dublin since the 1780s. The old distillery closed in the 1970s and the family business faded. In 2015 Jack and Stephen Teeling opened a new distillery in Dublin, the first new one in the city in over a century.

The Small Batch is a blend of malt and grain whiskey. It’s matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in rum casks, which are sourced from the Caribbean. It’s bottled at 46%, and it isn’t chill-filtered. There’s no age statement.

The name is a bit of a marketing term. There is no legal definition of “small batch”, so it’s not a guarantee of anything. What is more concrete is the rum cask finish.

Why I would pick it up

My regular choice is Jameson, which is smooth and easy. Teeling Small Batch is described as smooth and sweet, with a bit more going on. If there’s an Irish whiskey that could pull me away from my usual, a rum-finished blend with some spice is a good candidate.

Trying it

I tried this neat. I poured it next to Jameson, which is my benchmark. I expected something similar but a bit more interesting. That’s right.

Nose: Vanilla and tropical fruit, with a little spice. There’s a faint rum sweetness. It smells sweet and soft.

Palate: Sweet and fruity. Vanilla, a bit of rum, and a soft spice at the back. At 46% it feels fuller than Jameson, but it’s just as smooth. It’s easy to drink, with a bit more going on. I liked the fruitiness.

Finish: Medium, smooth and slightly sweet. The rum note lingers a little. A drop of water kept it pleasant.

Irish alternatives

Bushmills 10 is a single malt, drier and a little more traditional. Green Spot and Redbreast 12 are single pot still, a distinct Irish style with a spicy and creamy character. Connemara is a peated Irish malt. Teeling Small Batch is the fruity, accessible one.

Value

A 70 cl bottle usually costs about £38 in the UK. That’s a bit more than Jameson, and I think it’s worth it.

At 46%, with no chill-filtering and a rum finish, the Small Batch is often seen as good value for the style. It sits above Jameson in price, but below the single pot still bottles.

Who it is for

It’s for people who like Irish whiskey and want something a little more interesting than the standard bottle. It’s also a good starting point for anyone curious about what a rum finish does.

Moving on from Jameson

I poured this next to a Jameson, and the difference was clear. The Teeling is fruitier and has a bit more depth, and the rum is noticeable. It’s smooth, but it doesn’t taste the same as the one I always buy.

Would it replace it?

Honestly, it might. It’s a few pounds more, and it’s more interesting. If I could only buy one Irish whiskey, I’d have to think about it. The Jameson is the safe choice, and the Teeling is the happy one.

I’d happily recommend it to anyone who likes Jameson and wants to branch out a little.

Last word

Teeling Small Batch is the bottle I’d choose if someone told me to try a different Irish whiskey. It’s sweet, fruity and smooth, and it has a bit of rum that makes it more interesting than the average blend. It’s a step up from Jameson without being a big jump.

At £38 it’s a fair price, and I’d say it’s one of the best-value Irish whiskeys. I’d keep a bottle at home, and I’d be very happy to pour it for friends who like Jameson. That’s about the highest compliment I can give.

One last observation. The rum finish doesn’t taste like rum in a cocktail sense. It’s more of a sweet, tropical note that sits behind the whiskey. If you’re expecting a rum-flavoured drink, you’ll be disappointed. If you want a bit of tropical sweetness, it’s perfect.

Verdict

Yes. It’s smooth, sweet and has a bit more character than Jameson. I’d buy it again.