Teeling Small Batch is one of those bottles that quietly changed my mind about what modern Irish whiskey could be. When most people think Irish, they think triple-distilled, smooth, maybe a bit safe. Teeling had other ideas. At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, this is an Irish blend that actually wants you to pay attention — and at £37.75, it's not asking much for the privilege.
What strikes me first about this whiskey is the confidence of that bottling strength. A lot of blended Irish whiskey hits the shelves at 40%, sometimes 43% if the brand is feeling generous. Teeling went to 46% and skipped the chill filtration, which tells you they want the texture and body to come through intact. For a bartender, that's a meaningful decision — it means this whiskey can hold its own in a cocktail without disappearing behind the mixer, but it's also built to reward you neat.
As a blended whiskey, Teeling Small Batch combines malt and grain whiskeys, and the NAS designation means they're blending for a flavour profile rather than chasing an age statement. That's not a bad thing. Some of the most interesting whiskeys I've poured over six years behind a bar have been NAS expressions where the blender had the freedom to pull from different cask types and ages to hit a specific target. The result here is a whiskey that feels lively and approachable without being simple.
Tasting Notes
I'll be honest — I want to let you discover this one on your own terms. What I will say is that the 46% ABV and non-chill filtered approach means you're getting the full spectrum of what the blender intended. There's genuine complexity here for an Irish blend at this price point, and a few drops of water open it up nicely without flattening it out.
The Verdict
At £37.75, Teeling Small Batch sits in a sweet spot. It's priced competitively against the big Irish names but delivers something genuinely different. The higher ABV gives it backbone, and there's enough character here to make it interesting whether you're sipping it after dinner or building a drink around it. I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10 — it's a whiskey that punches above its weight class and makes a strong case for the new wave of Irish whiskey. If you've been stuck in a rut with the usual suspects on the Irish shelf, this is your way out.
Best Served
This is a brilliant base for a Whiskey Sour. The 46% ABV means it won't get buried under the citrus and egg white, and the blend's natural sweetness plays beautifully against fresh lemon juice. Go with 50ml Teeling, 25ml fresh lemon, 20ml simple syrup, and one egg white. Dry shake first, then shake hard over ice, and strain into a coupe. Alternatively, if you want to keep things simple, pour it neat with two or three drops of water and let it breathe for a few minutes. Either way, you're in good hands.
