The world of whiskey is full of bottles that promise more than they deliver. Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish vs Proper Twelve Irish Apple: Which Irish Should You Buy? belongs to the rarer category that simply lets the liquid speak.
Choosing between Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish and Proper Twelve Irish Apple can be tough, especially when they compete in the same space. In this head-to-head comparison, we taste them side by side and score every dimension so you don't have to guess.
Whether you're stocking your home bar or picking a gift, this breakdown will point you to the right bottle.
Specifications at a Glance
| Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish | Proper Twelve Irish Apple | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | N/A | N/A |
| Type | Irish | Irish |
| Age | 28 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finish | N/A |
| ABV | 53.7% ABV | 35% ABV, blend of single malt and grain whiskies, |
| Price | $3499.99 | N/A |
| Rating | 9/10 | 5/10 |
Nose
Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish: 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.
Proper Twelve Irish Apple: Candied green apple (if anyone remembers those caramel apple lollipops, its very similar to that) overwhelms the bouquet. A touch of under ripe pear weaves through.
Both whiskeys present distinct aromatic profiles. The differences on the nose already hint at the divergent tasting experiences to come.
Palate
Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish: 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.
Proper Twelve Irish Apple: Not as sweet as the nose, but again, overwhelmingly tastes of candied apple. The same pear not comes in just at the beginning on the sip. Lightly sweet all of the way through, the very back palate has a bit more malty weight, with a brown sugar sweetness to it.
On the palate, the character of each whiskey really comes to life. This is where personal preference plays the biggest role.
Finish
Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish: Comments: Bottled at 53.7% ABV
Proper Twelve Irish Apple: The finish is fairly decent, with more of the brown sugar coming through.
The finish can make or break a whiskey. A long, satisfying finish keeps you coming back for another sip.
Value for Money
Pricing varies by market, so check your local retailer for current rates on both bottles.
With both bottles in a comparable price range, the decision comes down to flavour preference rather than wallet size.
The Verdict
In this matchup, Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish takes the crown with a rating of 9/10 compared to Proper Twelve Irish Apple's 5/10. It delivers a more compelling overall experience that justifies its place in your collection.
That said, Proper Twelve Irish Apple is by no means a bad whiskey. If the flavour profile of Proper Twelve Irish Apple appeals to your palate more, don't let a number stop you.
Read the Full Reviews
Final Reflections
Teeling 32-Year-Old Purple Muscat Finish vs Proper Twelve Irish Apple: Which Irish Should You Buy? is the kind of bottle that rewards the curious — those willing to sit with a glass and let the story unfold at its own pace.
