Another Revival!

It's again been a long time since I had the pleasure of trying something new. Been really busy with work. It's amazing how much work can sap you if you take it seriously. Maybe the trick is...

After slumbering for a long time, the best way to get back on track is to start a Revival! And, after trying Glendronach's one previously, I'm going for Teeling's Revival this time round.

Image from Master of Malt

Teeling 15 years Revival (abv 46%)

Nose - Ripe pears transiting to brown sugar, caramelized sugar - slight touches of something meaty. Ripe pears give way to greener fruits - figs and a touch of guava that's not fully ripened. Turns slightly metallic - copper? Maybe it's my foreknowledge of pot stills getting in the way of my nose. Suggestion of something meaty, like aged meat or something. Just a whiff though.

Palate - Mm. A slightly stronger alcohol attack than expected. After that fades, this whiskey is good. Pears, then apricots, then figs, ripe green apples. Slightly meaty again, but not in the range of Mortlach. A little metallic, mineral note to keep the palate fresh amidst all that's going on. The apricots become the most dominant fruit note. Honey, brown sugar. Vanilla drifts in occasionally. Malty background throughout. This is a full meal in a relatively harmonious, gentle package. Very mouth-coating

Finish - Mm. Not very long. Medium-short. Spicy on finish - cinnamon and cloves, a bit of nutmeg. Oak presence on the finish. A touch of apricot still. Nice.

Overall - This was tried at La Maison without knowing how much it'll cost me - they've done away with the menus. That's a pretty good move for a bar which changes the bottles available so quickly, but it makes ordering whiskies a real hit and miss. Turns out, one dram of the Teeling Revival 15 cost me almost $50. Oops. Should have asked before ordering... Or maybe I should have gotten something that I know was not as rare, and not presented with as much fanfare...

But, having said that, this is really good whiskey, and definitely one of the best Ireland has to offer. This whiskey was aged in rum casks, but the rum doesn't dominate the whiskey. It's a good maturation process, with the malt and the cask both giving their best.