TEELING BLACKPITTS BIG SMOKE WHISKEY

Description

Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke: A Powerful Irish Whiskey with 55 PPM Peated Malt

An Intensely Smoky Limited Edition from Dublin

Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke is a heavily peated Irish single malt whiskey created by Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin.

Known for its innovative approach to whiskey production, Teeling explores different maturation techniques and distillation methods to develop distinctive expressions.

Big Smoke represents a particularly powerful interpretation of the distillery's peated Blackpitts range.

Made using malt peated to 55 ppm and bottled at 56.5% alcohol by volume, it delivers an intense smoky profile.

Inspired by Dublin's Historic Blackpitts District

The whiskey takes its name from Blackpitts, a historic industrial area located near Teeling Distillery in Dublin's Liberties district.

The neighbourhood was once home to important barley malting facilities.

Malting plays a central role in whiskey production, preparing the barley for fermentation and distillation.

When peat smoke is used during the drying process, the malt absorbs aromatic compounds that contribute smoky flavours to the finished spirit.

Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke celebrates this historical connection through a distinctly peated single malt.

Double Distillation and 55 PPM Peated Malt

One of the defining characteristics of Big Smoke is its use of heavily peated malt.

The announced phenol level of 55 ppm indicates a substantial degree of peat exposure during malting.

However, ppm is a measure associated with the malt and does not directly determine the perceived intensity of smoke in the finished whiskey.

Big Smoke also differs from the standard Blackpitts expression through its distillation method.

While the original Blackpitts undergoes triple distillation, Big Smoke is double distilled.

This production choice contributes to a more robust and intensely smoky style.

Matured Exclusively in Ex-Bourbon Casks

Big Smoke is aged entirely in former bourbon barrels.

These American oak casks provide a complementary maturation environment for the heavily peated spirit.

The resulting whiskey combines smoky, woody and fruity characteristics.

Unlike the original Blackpitts, which uses a combination of bourbon and Sauternes wine casks, this edition does not rely on wine-cask maturation.

The emphasis remains on the interplay between peat smoke, oak and the underlying malt character.

Tasting Notes: Barbecue Smoke, Charcoal and Charred Wood

On the nose, Blackpitts Big Smoke reveals pronounced aromas of barbecue smoke and charcoal.

Smouldering wood and subtle floral notes add complexity.

Hints of fruit emerge as the whiskey opens in the glass.

The palate is powerful, with deep smoke, charred wood and a distinctive barbecue character.

Fruity and floral nuances provide contrast to the intense peat influence.

The finish is long and persistent, leaving lingering impressions of smoke and wood.

Serving Suggestions

This whiskey is best explored neat in a tulip-shaped tasting glass.

Given its strength of 56.5% ABV, adding a few drops of water can help reveal additional aromatic layers.

Allowing the whiskey to rest briefly in the glass may also soften the initial intensity of the alcohol.

With a reported production of 8,400 bottles, Teeling Blackpitts Big Smoke offers an opportunity to discover a powerful and unusual expression of Irish single malt whiskey.

It is particularly well suited to enthusiasts of heavily peated whiskies, smoky spirits and distinctive limited releases.