In this exclusive interview, Alex Chasko shares his expertise and passion as we explore the significance of the 10th Anniversary of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, and the special release of the Celebratory Batch whiskey exclusive to Dublin and Cork Duty Free to mark the occasion. 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 Irish Whiskey with Alex Chasko.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: Can you first 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 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.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: How would you describe the Teeling Celebratory Batch release?

Alex Chasko: Created in honour of the 10th Anniversary of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, this Celebratory Batch is a ten-year-old small batch blend, which has been given an extended finishing period in Chinkapin Oak casks. The Celebratory Batch is non-chill filtered, capturing all the natural oils and flavour, before being bottled at 46% ABV. We wanted to create a blend with a distinct Pot Still character which, when paired with the unique Chinkapin Oak casks, creates something truly special. In fact, this whiskey was hand-selected by the Irish Whiskey ambassadors of Dublin and Cork Duty Free.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: Can you tell us more about the Chinkapin Oak casks which were selected for this release?

Alex Chasko: What I find interesting about Chinkapin Oak is that while it is an American Oak, it’s not the Quercus Alba (White Oak) that’s typically used in the in the production of Bourbon. Chinkapin Oak is sometimes referred to as a scrub oak, essentially a weed. It’s shorter and narrower than white oak, and is typically found in regions like the Appalachian Mountains where the soil is dry and rockier.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: What makes Chinkapin Oak unique?

Alex Chasko: In terms of the wood profile, it falls somewhere between that of Quercus Alba (White Oak) and Quercus Robur (European Oak) that we are accustomed to. It doesn’t quite have as strong a vanilla and honey influence as the White Oak, or the spice and astringency of European Oak. It’s flavour profile often features earthy notes, coffee, umami and subtle spice.
It's most commonly used in the production of Rye Whiskey. The profile of the Chinkapin Oak really lends itself to the spice you’d expect from a Rye Whiskey. We’ve found that this is also true for our Pot Still Irish Whiskey, which is renowned for is spice quality from the use of both malted and un-malted barley.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: How would you describe the flavour profile of the Teeling Celebratory Batch?

Alex Chasko: On the nose this whiskey opens with vanilla, dark chocolate and wood spice. On the palate, it has a creamy mouthfeel with distinct notes of banana bread, caramel and forest fruits. Finally, on the finish, the Teeling Celebratory Batch has a luxurious long finish with sweet toffee, butterscotch, caramel biscuit and wood tannins.

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 your favourite treat, all work well with our award-winning whiskeys.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: You mentioned the Celebratory Batch was created to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, that’s quite a significant milestone for the company?

Alex Chasko: Yes, it’s a significant milestone in a number of ways. Back in the early 2010s, Dublin was in a very different place. There was no building boom, and there was no template for how to build and operate a distillery in the heart of the city. There were any number of logistical challenges to overcome and that was before we even ran our first distillation. To reach the ten-year mark is a real signal of our resilience and long-term commitment to Irish Whiskey and Dublin as our home of distillation.
We started out with the mission to bring distilling back to Dublin city, the historic home of Irish Whiskey production. When the doors of the Teeling Distillery opened, it was the first new distillery in Dublin in 125 years. Ten years on, and we’ve seen the return of more distilleries to Dublin. This year, we will welcome our one millionth visitor through the doors of our distillery, yet another sign that our mission is alive and well.
From a whiskey making perspective, we are constantly innovating, learning and refining each stage of our whiskey making process. With a decade of Dublin distilling behind us, we’ve overcome challenges and have been fortunate to have some great successes along the way. Teeling Whiskey is recognised as the World’s Most Awarded Irish Whiskey, with world’s best titles attributed to both our award-winning whiskeys, and the world class people behind them. The Celebratory Batch is truly a special way to mark a historic milestone for Teeling and Irish Whiskey as a whole in partnership with the ARI.

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: The Teeling Celebratory Batch was selected by the Brand Ambassadors of Dublin and Cork Duty Free, why is this important?

Alex Chasko: For me it’s the most important part of this process. As a whiskey maker, the joy is in producing something that other people will love and be inspired by. The only way to get there is to get your whiskey out into the world for people to try it. Dublin airport is the single largest retailer for Irish Whiskey in the world, and the Brand Ambassadors who work there know their whiskey inside and out. When you realise their love of whiskey is similar to your love of whiskey, there’s an opportunity to create something a little different, something special that will surprise people – and that’s what we’ve done with the Celebratory Batch. The fact that it was hand-selected by the team of Brand Ambassadors is a signal that we were on to a winner!

Dublin & Cork Airport Duty Free: Are there any upcoming releases or limited editions within your brand that you are particularly excited about?

Alex Chasko: The fourth edition of our Rising Reserve Series will be released later this year. The Rising Reserve is a series of 21-Year-Old Single Malts which have been given a second maturation period in premium fortified wine casks. It’s a series we love here at Teeling Whiskey, and we are incredibly excited to see how the latest edition will be received.
We’ve been very fortunate to have had great success with our airport exclusive releases, most recently the Teeling Christmas Batch which was a festive blend of hand selected Sherry casks, Port Casks and Red Wine Casks which we released last year. We look forward to more opportunities to bring new and exciting whiskeys like these to consumers in 2025.