Teeling Phoenix Legends No. 2 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey 750ml

On a fall afternoon in 1977, Notre Dame's Fighting Irish walked out for warmups against USC in their usual blue jerseys — and then returned from the locker room wearing green, accompanied by a massive wooden Trojan horse the student body had built themselves. The stadium erupted. Notre Dame demolished USC 49-19 that day, on their way to the program's 10th consensus national championship, and the moment has lived on in college football lore ever since as the "Green Jersey Game." Nearly half a century later, Teeling Whiskey chose that exact story as the inspiration for the second release in its Phoenix Legends series — a genuine collaboration between the Dublin distillery and the University of Notre Dame, built around ultra-premium, historically framed limited editions.

The whiskey itself is a 16-year-old single malt, distilled entirely in Dublin, matured 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels before spending a further two years finishing in Sicilian Marsala wine casks. "We tasted through a lot of casks in our warehouse and were really blown away by the character of this whiskey," said Teeling co-founder Jack Teeling, explaining that this release's focus shifted deliberately away from chasing an even higher age statement toward simply finding the most compelling flavor in the warehouse. The Phoenix Legends series debuted in 2024 with a 24-year-old expression finished in Rivesaltes wine casks that went on to be named "World's Best Irish Single Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards — a genuinely high bar for this follow-up to clear.

Christopher Null's independent review at Drinkhacker, published on Drinkhacker after more than 25 years covering the category, called this "a big shift from Legends #1," noting that "the Marsala is strong with this one, intensely oxidized notes vivid on the nose." InsideHook's own tasting found "figs, dates, plums and burnt sugar on the nose," with the palate revealing "biscuit, cherry and... kettle corn," alongside "an oily/creamy mouthfeel" — concluding directly: "it's not an Irish whiskey for beginners... but it's complex and unique." Teeling's own official notes describe rich caramel corn, dried cherries, and spices, while other retailer accounts find honeyed malt, toasted oak, warm spice, dried orchard fruit, and a subtle floral lift. Because the finishing casks were originally toasted oak, the elevated proof draws out genuinely nutty, tobacco, and savory notes that deepen the whiskey's overall complexity. Bottled non-chill filtered at 46% ABV, in a striking decanter-style vessel, and limited to just 1,500 bottles worldwide — this is a genuinely rare, story-rich release built as much for the Notre Dame faithful chasing a piece of Fighting Irish history as for serious whiskey collectors.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Teeling Phoenix Legends No. 2 is produced by Teeling Whiskey, distilled entirely in Dublin, as the second release in an ongoing collaboration between the distillery and the University of Notre Dame. The Phoenix Legends series debuted in 2024 with a 24-year-old single malt finished in Rivesaltes wine casks, an expression later named "World's Best Irish Single Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards. This second release commemorates Notre Dame's legendary 1977 "Green Jersey Game" against USC, in which the Fighting Irish surprised fans by switching from their usual blue jerseys to green mid-warmup, entered the stadium behind a student-built wooden Trojan horse, and defeated USC 49-19 en route to the program's 10th consensus national championship.

The whiskey is a 16-year-old single malt matured for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a further two years finishing in Sicilian Marsala wine casks — a genuinely oxidative, richly sweet secondary maturation that Teeling co-founder Jack Teeling and the distillery's own team selected specifically for its distinctive flavor character rather than to simply chase a higher age statement. Because the Marsala casks were originally toasted oak, the whiskey's elevated proof helps draw out additional nutty, tobacco, and savory notes alongside the primary Marsala sweetness. Bottled non-chill filtered at 46% ABV / 92 proof, presented in a decanter-style bottle, and limited to just 1,500 bottles worldwide, released in fall 2025 to select US markets and specialty retailers. A third and final release in the Notre Dame collaboration is planned, tied to the program's 1988 national championship.

Critics Reviews

No numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time.

Christopher Null, Drinkhacker (extended independent review):
"A second edition of Teeling's Phoenix Legends single malt Irish whiskey is upon us, and this one sees a big shift from Legends #1... In the bottle is a 16 year old single malt — 14 years in bourbon barrels and two years finishing in Marsala casks. The Marsala is strong with this one, intensely oxidized notes vivid on the nose."

InsideHook (extended tasting note):
"You'll discover figs, dates, plums and burnt sugar on the nose. On the palate, I found biscuit, cherry and what Chasko suggests as kettle corn — I don't disagree, and there's an oily/creamy mouthfeel at work, too. It's not an Irish whiskey for beginners, but it's complex and unique."

Jack Teeling, Co-Founder, Teeling Whiskey:
"We tasted through a lot of casks in our warehouse and were really blown away by the character of this whiskey. By producing something so limited, distinctive, and well-aged, we're helping to reframe perceptions of Irish whiskey, showing that it's not just smooth and approachable, but also layered, complex, and firmly part of the global single malt conversation."

Teeling Whiskey (official tasting note):
"With notes of rich caramel corn, dried cherries and spices, this 16 year old Single Malt is finished in Marsala Casks."

CaskCartel (extended tasting note):
"Nose: Honeyed malt, toasted oak, warm spice, dried orchard fruit and a subtle floral lift."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Intensely oxidized Marsala character leads, vivid and pronounced, with figs, dates, plums, and burnt sugar building beneath. Honeyed malt, toasted oak, and warm spice add depth, alongside dried orchard fruit and a subtle floral lift.

Palate
Biscuit, cherry, and kettle corn (rich caramel corn) carry the entry, with an oily, creamy mouthfeel. Dried cherries and warm spice continue through the mid-palate, joined by nutty, tobacco, and savory notes drawn out by the elevated proof from the originally toasted-oak Marsala casks.

Finish
Complex and unique, closing with lingering spice and the same intensely sweet, oxidized Marsala character that defines the whiskey throughout — genuinely rich and layered, not built for the casual or beginner Irish whiskey drinker.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Dark chocolate desserts
• Aged hard cheeses
• Dried fruit and nut boards
• Rich, roasted meats