Teeling, more au fait with the metal markets than I, have dubbed their new 26-year old single malt "Gold Reserve" and their 30-year old, top-of-the-range whiskey, "Platinum Reserve". The 30yo will set you back about an ounce-and-a-half of platinum, or €1,500 (wow!); the 26yo will lighten your purse by a mere half-ounce of gold, or €475.
The Gold Reserve is 26-year old single malt, doubled distilled in 1987 and matured for the most part in bourbon casks. Alex Chasko, TWC's master blender and distiller, says that the whiskey hadn't quite gelled so he moved it for the final 15 months to white Burgundy casks, a wood choice hitherto untested on Irish whiskey, never mind on such old and rare spirit.
It was a brave move but it worked. I've tried this whiskey a couple of times and it's a stunner. For what it's worth, in my opinion, this is one of the best Irish whiskeys you can walk into a shop and lay your hands on today, at any price. It is limited to 1,000 bottles, at 46% ABV.
The Gold Reserve hits the spot for me but some might plump for the 30-year old Platinum Reserve instead. This is a rarer tipple, with only 250 bottles released, again at 46%. It's just the one ex-bourbon cask, double-distilled in 1983. I sampled it on the same night as I tried the Gold. On another occasion it would have been the highlight of the evening. But that Gold...
The new whiskeys are available initially only in Ireland at Dublin airport and the Celtic Whiskey Shop but they will eventually find their way to select international markets and travel retailers.