Amburana is a type of Brazilian hardwood. These asks are typically used to age cachaça, the sugarcane aguardente. While not an allowed cask type in Scotch whisky production, other producers like Plantation (rum), WhistlePig (American whiskey) and recently also Teeling used it to add a unique twist to its Irish single malt whiskey.
There was a Wonders of Wood release and now Dutch bottler The Duchess presented an exclusive single cask release that was finished in Amburana wood.
Teeling 15 yo 2006 – Amburana (57,8%, OB for The Duchess 2022, virgin Amburana cask #6210, 216 btl.)
Nose: a very typical aroma of apple crumble, with baked yellow apple as well as some buttery notes and cinnamon sugar. Star anise and golden raisins. Then some coconut shavings, marzipan aroma and a whiff of tonka beans. There’s a hint of vanilla frosting as well. Quite nice, almost a baker’s whisky.
Mouth: more of this baked apple and cinnamon combination, although there’s now a (harsher) woody side to it, with an earthy edge. Liqourice, ginger and a faint tannic / bitter note. Resinous hints. Then some fruit and honey granola as well. The fruitiness of the spirit is still there (some apricot maybe) but the alcoholic side and a spiciness tend to overtake it a little.
Finish: long, with the spice lingering on. Cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg until it dies. Still hints of baked apple.
The cinnamon and baked apple pie in this Teeling Amburana is quite unique. Teeling says these casks lead to carrot cake flavours and they’re right. It’s a fascinating experiment but I’m not sure I could drink a whole bottle of this. Still available from Best of Whiskies.