Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/326040
june 2014 / the tasting panel / 105 I t's been said the best way to predict the future is to create it, and Jack Teeling is doing just that. Founder of Teeling Whiskey Co., he's aiming to steer the 400-year- old Irish whiskey category in a new direction. Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey, the brand's debut release, shakes things up right out of the still. Launched stateside April 1, it's the first of its kind: a blended, non-chill-filtered Irish whiskey, finished in rum casks and bottled at a lofty 92 proof. "We're honoring the flavors of traditional Irish whiskey, like Jameson or Bushmills, but infusing it with craft distill- ing innovations," Teeling says. Working closely with Master Blender and Distiller Alex Chasko, brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling spent months perfecting the process. The result? A blend of hand-selected malt and grain whiskey matured in bour- bon barrels "ratcheted up," in Teeling's words, in ex-rum barrels for six months. Teeling's approach to the category may be new, but whiskey making is in the blood for these brothers, who hail from a long line of whiskey makers. The first family distillery opened in 1782 via Walter Teeling, and in 1987, John Teeling, Jack's father, launched Cooley Distillery, which was then Ireland's first new whiskey distillery in over 100 years. Although the distillery was sold to Beam Inc. in 2012, the Teeling Whiskey Co. currently sources its whiskey from Cooley. Golden Age Returns When the Teeling Distillery opened in 1782, it joined the ranks of 37 other Dublin distilleries. Today, there are none. Honoring Dublin's rich whiskey-producing history that has long since disappeared, the Teeling brothers' opera- tion—slated for completion in early 2015 —will be the city's first new distillery in over 125 years. "Slap bang in the city center, we were worried about potential planning issues and observations from existing Irish whiskey producers. Luckily, not a one. Our only snag from opening this year was the lag time on stills—there's huge global demand right now," explains Teeling. Near Guinness' St. James's Gate Brewery, the 500,000-liter dis- tillery, couched in the very same Liberties neighborhood as the first family operation 231 years ago, will feature a tasting room open to the public. Up until last year, there were only four distilleries in Ireland, all owned by large corporations: "The big guys are great for providing oxygen to the category, but it's time for a new golden era," says Teeling. Today, Teeling Whiskey Company is just one of 11 Irish craft distilleries emerging on the Emerald Isle spirits scene, and there's plenty of room for more players. As one of America's fastest-growing spirit categories, sales have jumped from 500,000 to 3 million cases in the last decade. With a bounty of non-traditional Irish whiskies on the market, the Irish Spirits Association estimates 12 million cases exported worldwide by 2020. Across-the-Pond Aspirations "By focusing on craft, much like the U.S. whiskey movement, with bolder, smoother flavors, we want to re-introduce the concept of Irish whiskey to the American palate," explains Teeling. In line with the company's "Dare to Be Different" motto, they're not only wooing America's palate, but their pocketbook as well. "There's a lot of white noise between the $20 and $60 bottle of Irish whiskey," explains Teeling, "with nothing in the middle." Teeling Whiskey is positioned at $40, land- ing squarely in opportune no man's land. Imported by Infinium Spirits, it's currently available in 17 states. For now, landing Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey in the hands of talented bartenders across the country is the company's primary focus. However, more game-changing expressions will be up next for the States. Releases to come include a single-grain corn whiskey aged in Cabernet Sauvignon casks and rare beauties, such as a 21-year-old single malt finished in Sauternes casks; a 26-year-old Gold Reserve and a 30-year-old Platinum Reserve single malt, are also in the pipeline. At Wingtip in San Francisco, Teeling Whiskey shines in cock- tails like the Liberties Uplifter, named in honor of the Dublin neighbor- hood where the whiskey is produced. TP0614_102-128.indd 105 5/23/14 9:50 PM