Peated Irish whiskey remains one of the more intriguing corners of the modern spirits landscape. For decades, peat was largely ceded to Scotland — Islay in particular — while Irish distillers built their reputation on triple-distilled smoothness and approachable grain character. Teeling Blackpitts represents a deliberate challenge to that assumption, and having spent time with this bottle, I can say it makes its case with real conviction.
Blackpitts takes its name from an area of Dublin's Liberties historically associated with malt kilns and smoke — a nod to a time when peat-dried malt was not exclusively Scottish territory. The Teeling family have been vocal about reclaiming that heritage, and this peated single malt, bottled at a confident 46% ABV without chill filtration, feels like a genuine statement of intent rather than a marketing exercise. It is non-age-statement, which in this case I take as a sign that the blending team prioritised flavour profile over a number on the label. Given the result, I think that was the right call.
What strikes me about Blackpitts is its positioning. This is not an Irish whiskey trying to impersonate an Islay malt. The peat here is integrated differently — used as one component in a broader flavour architecture rather than as the headline act. Irish single malt distillation tends to produce a slightly different spirit character to its Scottish counterpart, and that distinction carries through even when smoke enters the equation. Expect something that balances savoury, kiln-dried warmth with the kind of cereal sweetness and gentle fruit that Irish malt handles so well. It is a whiskey that rewards patience and attention.
At 46% and non-chill-filtered, the texture is notably full for its category. Teeling have given this whiskey the bottling strength it deserves, and it shows. There is a weight and presence here that you simply do not get at 40%.
The Verdict
At £58.75, Blackpitts sits in competitive territory — you are spending serious money, and there are excellent Scottish peated malts at this price point. But Teeling have produced something genuinely different here. This is not a whiskey that exists merely to tick a box. It has personality, it has purpose, and it offers something that the peat-curious drinker will not find elsewhere in the Irish category. A 7.9 out of 10 reflects a whiskey that delivers on its promise with skill and character, falling just short of the complexity that might push it higher. For anyone looking to explore what peated Irish single malt can be, this is an essential reference point.
Best Served
I would recommend Blackpitts neat at room temperature, with a few drops of water added after your first pour. The water opens up the integration between smoke and malt beautifully. If you are in the mood for something longer, a Highball with good soda water and a twist of lemon peel works surprisingly well — the carbonation lifts the smoke without drowning it. Avoid ice if you can; the 46% strength is pitched just right, and chilling it down risks flattening what makes this whiskey interesting.
