Today’s Advent Whisky is one that I’ve enjoyed before. I’m always slightly nervous about writing tasting notes about whiskies I’ve reviewed previously, because there’s always the fear that I end up saying completely different things – so please, like me, resist the temptation to read my last review before reading this one!

Teeling Small Batch is a 46% ABV Irish whiskey finished in rum casks.

The nose is quite strongly alcohol to start, but once that’s cleared there are vanilla notes and some fruity, almost raisin-like aromas underneath. Water tames the alcohol and reveals the damp wood of the barrel, but loses the fruit.

It’s initially spicy on the tongue, with a caramel sweetness coming through after that along with an almost creamy texture. The finish is long, lingering and with a subtle woody tannic edge to it. Watered, the spice is much less pronounced but the sweetness remains, becoming more like honey and the whiskey becomes more approachable but less adventurous.

A nice Irish dram, that earns 3 stars.