Interview with Teeling's Master Distiller Alex Chasko

Interview with Teeling's Master Distiller Alex Chasko

Interview with Teeling's Master Distiller Alex Chasko

In this exclusive interview, Alex Chasko shares his expertise, passion, and insider insights, uncovering the secrets and stories of the new Teeling Crystal Malt. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or just beginning your whiskey journey, this interview is your backstage pass to the heart and soul of the Whiskey world.
Raise your glass and join us as we toast to the artistry of whiskey with Alex Chasko.

The Loop Duty Free: Where is the whiskey produced?

Alex Chasko: This is a our Newest Dublin Distilled Single Malt, produced in Newmarket square, The Liberties, Dublin.

The Loop Duty Free: Can you provide some background on the distillery and its history?

Alex Chasko: Whiskey making and entrepreneurship has been in the Teeling genes as far back as 1782, when Walter Teeling set up a small craft distillery on Marrowbone Lane in the industrial heart of Dublin City.

Since 2012, Jack and Stephen Teeling, the latest generation of Teeling Whiskey makers, have been putting their own mark on Irish Whiskey and came full circle in 2015 when they proudly opened the new Teeling Whiskey Distillery just down the road from where the original family distillery once stood. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery today is the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years. At Teeling Whiskey we are renowned for our vision in doing things differently. Our Whiskeys embody this unconventional spirit with innovation at the core of everything we do.Through the use of innovative maturation techniques, atypical mash bills and forward-thinking distillation methods, combining tradition with modern technology, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of flavour. We don’t chill filter our Whiskey prior to bottling, leaving as much of the body, character and richness in the bottle. We bring our Whiskey from cask strength to our signature ABV of 46%, allowing us to bottle with no chill filtration, maintaining the true natural character of all our Teeling Whiskeys.

Flavour Profile:

The Loop Duty Free: How would you describe the flavour profile of this whiskey?

Alex Chasko: One of the big flavour components given from the use of Crystal Malt is caramel and toffee. This comes from kilning the barley at a higher temperature producing these vibrant sweet notes in the whiskey.

The Loop Duty Free: Are there specific tasting notes or characteristics that stand out?

Alex Chasko: On the nose it has these lovely apple and pear notes, followed by toffee light oak shavings. On the palate, there are bursts of toffee with distinct spices and a honeyed sweetness. Finally, on the finish, the Teeling Crystal Single Malt has a luxurious long finish with soft cinnamon spice and caramel.

The Loop Duty Free: What sets your whiskey apart from others in terms of taste and quality?

Alex Chasko: The use of Crystal Malted Barley really makes this stand out, as it delivers these vibrant apple and caramel notes in the whiskey. This is Ireland’s First Crystal Single Malt and speaks volumes for the innovation that we do on a regular basis at Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Whether it’s pushing the boundaries of flavour through atypical mash bills, utilising a myriad of different casks types, harnessing signature dual fermentation methods, or distilling in a more modern way, all comes back to the liquid.

The Loop Duty Free: How do you ensure the quality and consistency of your whiskey across different batches and releases?

Alex Chasko: So this is really where the art and craftsmanship of the Master Blender comes into play, to ensure consistency across not only each batch but from product to product. At Teeling Whiskey we pride ourselves in our hands on approach, as we continue to produce some of the World’s Best Whiskeys.

Packaging and Presentation:

The Loop Duty Free: Can you share details about the packaging design and bottle presentation?

Alex Chasko: The Phoenix logo on all our packing and bottles symbolises the rebirth of Irish and Dublin Whiskey, as Teeling Whiskey lead the next generation of Whiskey producers, brining breadth and choice to the Irish Whiskey category through innovation and craftsmanship. In addition to this, having crystals on the secondary packaging gives a nod to the use of our Crystal Malted Barley in this exciting new release.

The Loop Duty Free: Is there any significance or story behind the label or bottle design?

Alex Chasko: The Phoenix logo on all our packing and bottles symbolises the rebirth of Irish and Dublin Whiskey, as Teeling Whiskey lead the next generation of Whiskey producers, brining breadth and choice to the Irish Whiskey category through innovation and craftsmanship. In addition to this, having crystals on the secondary packaging gives a nod to the use of our Crystal Malted Barley in this exciting new release.

Awards and Recognitions:

The Loop Duty Free: Has this whiskey received any awards or recognitions?

Alex Chasko: Yes. The Teeling Crystal Single Malt was awarded Masters at the highly prestigious Irish Whiskey Masters in 2023, adding to our over 500 international accolades that we have been awarded at Teeling Whiskey Company.

Serving Recommendations:

The Loop Duty Free: How do you recommend consumers enjoy this whiskey? Neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails?

Alex Chasko: At Teeling Whiskey we believe that Whiskey can be consumed in a variety of ways, and is a very personal experience so what works best is what YOU enjoy! Whether that’s neat, on the rocks, in a cocktail or paired with something, all work well with our award-winning products.

The Loop Duty Free: Are there any specific food pairings that complement the whiskey?

Alex Chasko: The sweet toffee and caramel notes from the Crystal Malted Barely and the long luxurious finish of this Single Malt would work well pairing it with Dark Chocolate or Cured Meats.

Engaging with Consumers:

The Loop Duty Free: How do you engage with whiskey enthusiasts and consumers?

Alex Chasko: We have a number of in person and online digital activations across the world with Teeling Whiskey to connect with the consumer from trade shows, distillery events, bartender forums, co-branded seminar, online masterclasses and more. Our offerings are constantly changing as the needs of the consumer develop and we enjoy always finsing new ways to foster a deeper relationship and understating of Teeling Whiskey.

The Loop Duty Free: Are there any specific trends or changes in consumer preferences that you've noticed in the whiskey industry recently?

Alex Chasko: The Irish whiskey industry is experiencing notable shifts in consumer trends. Firstly, there's a surge in Irish whiskey cocktails featured on global bar menus, reflecting a growing demand for innovative drink options. Secondly, a significant increase in female Irish whiskey drinkers is observed, signaling a diversifying consumer base. Lastly, consumers are displaying heightened knowledge about Irish whiskey, demonstrating a growing appreciation for its heritage, production methods, and flavor profiles. These trends collectively indicate a dynamic evolution within the industry, with greater accessibility, inclusivity, and sophistication driving its momentum.

Community and Sustainability:

The Loop Duty Free: Does the distillery have any community or sustainability initiatives?

Alex Chasko: Absolutely! Since our opening in 2015, sustainability has been at the core of our philosophy here at Teeling Whiskey Company across all operations, and we are constantly looking to lead the Irish Whiskey Category when it comes to our sustainable efforts and protecting the planet, as we produce some of the World Most Awarded Irish Whiskeys. Whether it’s innovating on our secondary packing for a more carbon neutral future, or sourcing more sustainable ingredients and implementing practices from a production perspective, or even social sustainability to give back to the local community, we look to constantly improve and reduce our global footprint. Our dedication to producing a more sustainable Irish Whiskey from Dublin was recently acknowledged, being awarded most Sustainable Irish Distillery of the year in 2022! We are also a proud Origin Green Member, contributing to a collective sustainale approach to the Irish Whiskey industry.

The Loop Duty Free: Are there efforts to source ingredients locally or implement eco-friendly practices?

Alex Chasko: Yes, every little counts and we work with local producers! At Teeling Whiskey we source sustainable raw materials and implement sustainable production processes whenever possible. Initiatives to date include the installation of a rainwater harvesting system in our distillery; the use of an onsite well to reduce water consumption; and energy optimisation measures such as the harnessing of excess energy produced during the production process to heat our Visitor Centre. Equally, any of the left over spent grain from the production process is repurposed as a high quality animal feed for livestock in Ireland. Our barrels used to mature our award-winning whiskeys are also reused and repurposed on a regular basis.
Most recent updates in our Brand Home from a sustainable point of view include installing PV Solar Panels on the roof of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. The Energy generated shall provide the building with up to 30% of its overall electricity requirements, thus reducing our reliance on conventional fossil fuels. In addition, we have recently installed a Teeling Garnish Garden on the roof of our distillery, which supplies us with the necessary ingredients for our cocktails while also providing fuel for the 500,000 bees that live on the rooftop of our distillery supplying us with Teeling Rooftop Honey. From barrel to bottle, our efforts are continually growing to do better, with bottles of Teeling whiskey now produced with 75% recycled glass and are 100% recyclable.

Future Releases and Innovations:

The Loop Duty Free: Can you provide any insights into future releases or innovations in your whiskey lineup?

Alex Chasko: Yes, we will have the 3rd edition of our Dublin Distilled Single Pot Still Series the Wonders of Wood, which has been aged in Swedish Oak and is coming to a wider audience soon. We are also looking forward to some limited vintage releases, as well as future iterations of our Teeling Small Batch Collaborations and plenty more coming down the line. Our NPD line for 2024 consists of some of the most exciting Teeling Whiskeys to date.

The Loop Duty Free: Are there any upcoming releases or limited editions within your brand that you are particularly excited about?

Alex Chasko: Yes, we will have the 3rd edition of our Dublin Distilled Single Pot Still Series the Wonders of Wood, which has been aged in Swedish Oak and is coming to a wider audience soon, and we are very excited to see how this is received, following the global success of the previous releases, as the World’s Best Single Pot Still at the World Whiskey awards in 2023.