Teeling Blackpitts is the bottle that proved peated Irish whiskey could be its own thing rather than an imitation of Islay. It was the first peated single malt distilled in Dublin, and only the second whiskey produced at Teeling's Newmarket distillery after the family reopened distilling in the city in 2015 following a gap of nearly forty years. The name comes from the Blackpitts area immediately behind the distillery, historically dense with malting houses, which makes it about as literal a piece of naming as you will find. What separates this from a Scottish peated malt is the third distillation. Peated barley carries phenols that give whiskey its smoke, and running the spirit through the still a third time strips out much of the medicinal, iodine heavy character that defines Islay, leaving behind something closer to barbecue smoke and warm charcoal. The peated malt itself comes from Glenesk in Scotland, since Teeling could not source Irish peat at the volume required, and it enters the process at roughly 55 parts per million before triple distillation brings the new make down to around 15. Maturation follows the Teeling house approach: a combination of ex bourbon barrels and ex Sauternes casks, the latter borrowed from the thinking behind their 24 Year Old Single Malt, which took World's Best Single Malt at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards. The Sauternes wood, which held sweet Bordeaux dessert wine, brings honey, stewed pear and grilled pineapple that plays against the smoke instead of competing with it. Bottled at 46 percent alcohol by volume with no chill filtration, it keeps its texture and weight. For anyone who likes peat but finds Islay relentless, this is the useful middle ground.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Ireland |
| Region |
Dublin |
| Distillery |
Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Newmarket, Dublin 8 |
| Producer |
Teeling Whiskey Company |
| Category |
Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey |
| Expression |
Blackpitts |
| Age |
No Age Statement |
| Mashbill |
100% Peated Malted Barley |
| Distillation |
Triple distilled |
| Maturation |
Ex bourbon barrels and ex Sauternes white wine casks |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Collection |
Teeling Unconventional Collection |
Tasting Notes
Color: Pale gold with a light straw cast, natural.
Nose: Barbecue smoke and warm charcoal up front, then clove, butterscotch and orange peel, with a sweet fruitiness and a faint floral, lemon lift underneath.
Palate: Applewood smoke wrapped in honey and allspice, moving into stewed pear and grilled pineapple, with vanilla and black pepper through the middle.
Finish: Salted caramel and savoury smoke over dry oak tannin, medium in length and gently drying.
FAQ
Q: Is this like an Islay Scotch?
A: Not quite. Triple distillation removes much of the medicinal and iodine character typical of Islay, leaving a softer, sweeter barbecue smoke. It is smoky, but gentler and fruitier.
Q: Is the peat Irish?
A: No. Teeling sought Irish peat but could not source it at scale, so the peated malt comes from Glenesk in Scotland. The distillation and maturation are entirely Irish.
Q: How heavily peated is it?
A: Press coverage puts the barley at roughly 55 parts per million, with the new make spirit landing near 15 after three distillations. These figures are not printed on the label.
Q: What are Sauternes casks?
A: Casks that previously held Sauternes, the sweet white wine of Bordeaux. They contribute honey, stone fruit and tropical notes that balance the smoke.
Q: How old is it?
A: There is no age statement. It is a young whiskey by design, drawn from stock distilled at the Dublin distillery since it opened in 2015.
Q: Where can I buy Teeling Blackpitts online?
A: Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
