Experts Named This Irish Whiskey The World’s Best Single Malt

We’ll toast to that.

The world’s best single malt is straight outta Dublin. 

Teeling Whiskey’s 24-year-old release took the title of the “World’s Best Single Malt” at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards, beating out stiff competitors from Scotland and Japan. 

Single malts are considered the “gold standard” in the industry due to their production process, character and flavor profile. As Gear Patrol notes, this is the first time an Irish whiskey has won the prestigious award in the competition’s history.

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The Dublin-based distillery only released 5,000 bottles of the spirit, which was aged for nearly a quarter-century in bourbon and wine barrels. 

Here are its tasting notes per the World Whiskies Awards:

Beautiful nose of orange peel, chocolate truffle and nuts. Caramel as well. Full bodied with fruity pineapple, honey and salted caramel.

Creamy on the palate with hints of new leather. Long lasting finish with vanilla, fruity pear and apple notes.

If you’re lucky enough to find the rare expression, it’ll almost certainly run for $500 or more. 

Feel free to scope out other fine single malts that took home regional wins, including the Sons of Liberty Battle Cry Sauternes Finish from the United States, the Two Brewers Yukon Release 9 Special Finish from Canada, or this year’s Best Scotch: the Glen Scotia 25 Years Old. 

Last year’s winner, the Hakushu 25 Year-Old from Suntory, was named this year’s Best Japanese Single Malt.