I’ll admit that even though my Mum was born in Dublin, I’m a relative newcomer to the charms of finer Irish Whiskey (the American 50% of me prefers Kentucky Bourbon!) I now understand that Teeling is definitely on its own path and not following traditional Irish Whiskey mash bills, which is intriguing. However, this unconventional 97% Corn/3% Malted Barley whiskey—is a “cornpone” style mash straight out of Tennessee—but not a good one. Finished in red wines barrels, this Teeling Single Grain is a bit of a miss for me, despite the “professional” review of 92 here. I’d give it an 82. Initially there’s a huge whiff of hot ethanol on the nose that hits the palate immediately after, covering whatever flavor nuances might be there. Even though I usually appreciate the higher proof bottlings, this actually opens just a bit (a very little bit) with a splash of water. I don’t notice any impact from the red wine barrel finishing whatsoever. I hate to say it, but the lesser reviewed “Small Batch” blended offering finished in ex-Flora Cana rum casks is far more interesting, if a bit sweeter on the finish. Its more cohesive and it’s also 25% less expensive than this one—and a far better value. $10 more buys you Redbreast and another $10 gets you Green Spot—both immensely superior drams. At least I can say I’ve tried it, but I won’t be buying this again. I’ll stick to the bargain Small Batch.