TEELING LAUNCHES SECOND WONDERS OF WOOD BOTTLING

The Dublin based Teeling Whiskey, has announced the launch of the second expression from its Wonders of Wood series.

Teeling Wonders of Wood - Virgin Portuguese Oak (50% ABV) is a single pot still Irish whiskey, produced using 50% malted barley and 50% un-malted barley, which was matured in virgin Portuguese oak barrels.

Teeling Wonders of Wood - Virgin Portuguese Oak

The Teeling Wonders of Wood series, is said to build on the distillery’s reputation for crafting unique and interesting expressions of Irish whiskey, by exploring the full spectrum of flavours it can offer, and pushes the boundaries by utilising unique styles of wood for the maturation of their award-winning single pot still whiskey.

Portuguese oak is native to the Iberian Peninsula and has a higher tannin content than other oak variants normally used in the Whiskey industry. When used for maturation it produces a distinct savoury marmalade flavour with warming hints of tobacco and pepper unique to Irish whiskey.

Teeling Wonders of Wood - Virgin Portuguese Oak, is said to deliver notes of citrus notes, hints of old spice, leather and cloves on the nose, followed by notes of toasted oak, savoury marmalade, pepper and nutmeg on the palate.

Teeling Whiskey has also announced that the sales of its Wonders of Wood series bottlings, will continue to help it work with the Tree Council of Ireland in the reforestation of designated areas of woodland with native Irish trees.

The first release allowed for an acre of native oak trees to be planted in the Glencree region of County Wicklow just outside of Dublin. This second release will allow for a second acre to be planted this time in County Dublin.

Commenting on the news, Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director of Teeling Whiskey, said: “Wood is an amazing, sustainable and environmentally friendly material that plays a huge role in developing the flavour and character of a whiskey as it matures. We are truly in wonder of the role wood has in crafting our Teeling Whiskeys as well as its impact on the wider environment, so as part of our new series we wanted to do our part in helping the replanting of our native Irish forests.”

Teeling Wonders of Wood - Virgin Portuguese Oak, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of €80.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

LAKES DISTILLERY APPOINTS NEW WHISKYMAKER

The Cumbria based Lakes Distillery, has announced the appointment of Sarah Burgess as its new Whiskymaker.

Sarah brings more than 25 years of whisky-making passion and knowledge to The Lakes Distillery at a time when they are accelerating production and planning for rapid international growth.

New Lakes Distillery Whiskymaker: Sarah Burgess

For over the last year, Sarah has been creative director at The Craigellachie, where Sarah has been crafting a luxury lifestyle collection of drinks telling the story of Speyside at one of the world’s oldest whisky hotels.

Previously Sarah was the Lead Whiskymaker at The Macallan, where she focused on whisky range creation, innovation, and quality control for one of the world’s most revered single malts. She also worked at Diageo for more than two decades, managing the Oban, Glenkinchie and Clynelish distilleries.

Commenting on the news Sarah Burgess, said: “I was intrigued by The Lakes as a new distillery but one creating such high-quality whisky. I am excited to be part of a new and innovative operation and I am sure between my creativity and the quality casks we have in maturation that many great whiskies will follow.”

Sarah takes over the Whiskymaker roll from Dhavall Gandhi, who in January 2022 opened an eponymously named whisky consultancy alongside his role at The Lakes Distillery.

Posted by Steve Rush