Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish represents a $3,499.99 proposition in the evolving Irish whiskey landscape.
Nose
This shifts from a golden raisin color to a rich amber color as I move it in my glass. Thick legs form that move pretty quickly down the glass. There is a lot of fruit on the nose including apple, cranberry, plum, and nectarine. All of that is backed up with a bit of toffee, vanilla, and nut.
Palate
This is a fascinating flavor profile that is quite sweet. I get a note of grape bubblegum and cotton candy at the front. There is a kind of contrasting maltiness to the mid palate that carries into the finish. The finish I could mistake for a drier dessert wine if it werent for the alcohol content. There is a note of honey that carries through the entire flavor profile. There is a lot going on in this and as I revisit it I get notes of different fruit including baked apple, banana, and date. The addition of water brings out more oak and vanilla and shifts the sweetness to more of a tropical fruit, like star fruit.
Finish
Bottled at 53.7% ABV. Pot distilled from 100% malted barley. Aged 28 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for four years in a single ex-purple muscat barrel. SRP of $3,499.99 per 700ml bottle. This is a fascinating and unique expression that I certainly enjoyed, even if I found the flavors to sometimes clash with each other. Certainly a fruity style on the sweeter end of the spectrum. If you have the disposable income to not worry about the price, this is certainly worth a try.
Verdict
Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish is an exceptional expression that stands among the finest in its category. It rewards patience and attention in equal measure, and we recommend it without reservation — though at $3,499.99, one expects nothing less.
