Teeling Explorers Series Japanese Edition 15-Year-Old Whiskey
by Ken Gargett
We looked at Teeling Whiskey and their Landscape 24-Year-Old whiskey, which was awarded World’s Best Single Malt back in 2019, some time ago. Irish whiskey tends to have a reputation not far from the poor red-headed stepchild in some circles.
Telling 24-year-old Landscape whiskey, the Best Single Malt at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards
Scotland reigns and Ireland comes well behind. It is more than a little unfair. Great whiskies hail from both nations. Over history, each have enjoyed their periods of ascension and other less glorious times.
From Ireland, Teeling make several of my favorites.
Teeling Explorers Series Japanese Edition 15-Year-Old Whiskey
This latest, from their Explorers Series, the Japanese Edition, Mugi Shochu 15-Year-Old ($175), will do nothing to change that. A cracking whiskey.
Arguments as to whether whiskey/whisky first came from Ireland or Scotland are always fun but perhaps for another time. Suffice to say that the history of Irish whiskey goes back to at least the 13th/15th century, possibly earlier. Variants include pot still, malt, grain and blended whiskies.
Its history has had its ups and downs.
In the 1890s, there were more than thirty active distilleries. By 1966, this had diminished to just two or three, including Bushmills and Old Middleton (later New Middleton). By 1972, they were both owned by Irish Distillers. It hardly made for a healthy and thriving industry, although other nations were also suffering at the time.
Production had dropped from around twelve million cases in 1900 to 400,000 to 500,000 at the nadir.
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Since 1990, some authorities believe that Irish whiskey has seen such a resurgence that it is the fastest growing spirit in the world. Exports have grown at 15% annually since then. There are now more than thirty distilleries. It is a truly astonishing turnaround.
Revival took until 1987, when Cooley Distillers was established, almost immediately followed by Pernod Ricard taking over Irish Distillers (this enabled increased marketing for Jamesons and was instrumental in seeing Irish whiskey start to take its place around the globe).
Cooley is relevant to us as it was John Telling who established it. In 2010, Teeling also reopened the closed distillery, the Kilbeggan Distillery. It is worth noting that Ireland operates under different rules and regulations than does Scotland.
Teeling distillery in Dublin
In 2012, Teeling opened the first new distillery in Dublin city in over 125 years (I can find nearly as many mentions of the distillery opening in 2015, so we know it is some time early last decade). At one stage Dublin had 37 distilleries.
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Teeling had sold Cooley in 2011, but they maintained control of mature stocks of whiskey. These would prove crucial to their whiskies over the next decade and longer.
They had history. Back in 1782, Walter Teeling had established a distillery in Dublin on Marrowbone Road. It was Walter’s descendants, Jack and Stephen, who opened the new distillery in 2012. Their pot still produces half a million litres a year.
Teeling 24-Year-Old Single Malt whiskey: 2016 ‘World’s Best Irish Single Malt’
As well as the World’s Best Malt mentioned above, in 2016, at the World Whiskies Awards, they also won ‘World’s Best Irish Single Malt’. When last we looked at Teeling, we brought forth some contrary views, but for me, and many others, they make some superb whiskies.
The Explorers Series is usually sold in travel retail, but with this latest, the Japanese Edition, it is available more widely.
The previous Edition in the Explorers Series was a twelve-year-old whiskey, the Brazilian Edition. It was initially matured in Bourbon casks before it was finished in virgin Amburana Brazilian Hardwood.
Teeling Explorers Series Japanese Edition 15-Year-Old Whiskey
The latest in the Explorers Series, the 15-Year-Old Japanese Series, is 46%. No chill filtration. After time in ex-Bourbon casks, eleven years, it was finished in casks that previously held Mugi Shochu, for four years.
Mugi Shochu is a Japanese spirit distilled from grains. It is made from a mix of corn and malted barley.
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Jack Teeling
MD Jack Teeling, had this to say – “With our new Explorers Series 15 Year Old Japanese Edition, we have pushed the boundaries of Irish Whiskey by incorporating elements of Japanese craft spirits. Through a friend living in Japan we could source these casks directly and have been waiting patiently for over four years before we felt it was the right time to bottle up this one of a kind whiskey. We believe this unique collaboration has resulted in a whiskey that truly represents the spirit of exploration, innovation, and craftsmanship that Teeling Whiskey stands for.”
Teeling Explorers Series Japanese Edition 15-Year-Old Whiskey
So what is this latest release like?
Gorgeously aromatic with notes of spicy, stewed apples, just like my grandmother would make (the fact that I have compared her cooking to an alcoholic drink means she is currently spinning in the grave).
Florals, dried fruits, mince pies (fruit mince pies), gingerbread and gentle tropical notes of mango and passionfruit. Utterly entrancing. Balance and length, there is complexity here. Love it!
For more information, please visit https://teelingdistillery.com/product/explorers-series-15-year-old-japanese-edition/
You might also enjoy:
Teeling Whiskey: The World’s Best Single Malt 2019, That’s Official
Michel Couvreur: a Belgian making Sensational Whisky in France
Chivas Regal Ultis XX: A Blended Whisky to Rival Great Single Malts
Singleton 40-Year-Old Malt Whisky: a Truly Majestic Malt
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