
August 9, 2018

A few Teaninich

It’s uncommon but the indies have/had some from time to time. Some have been very good, I think…

Teaninich 18 yo 1999/2018 (48.4%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask # 12675, 328 bottles)

Remember Diageo had a really good 1999 last year within their Special Releases (WF 85). Colour: straw. Nose: funny. Petrol, paraffin, sour cream, custard, cassata, café latte, barley syrup. Wee whiffs of new plastic, remember at the supermarket? Or that new brand Volkswagen? Mouth: traces of paraffin left, otherwise lemon, vanilla, grass, cactus juice, cider apples, raw rhubarb. A tad acidic, but that isn’t unpleasant, you can count your vertebras when it goes down. Ha. Finish: medium, still acidic. More grass and lemon juice, shall we call this a detox whisky? Comments: this one was really very grassy. Neymar should love it. Oh come on!...
SGP:471 - 82 points.

Teaninich 11 yo 2006/2018 (55.2%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, 450 bottles)

This one from two bourbon hogsheads. As Cadenhead have demonstrated in numerous occasions, vattings of two or three casks can make wonders, especially with youngsters (talking about the casks, not about the drinkers). Colour: white wine. Nose: lemon in porridge, plus ink and new magazines. The new IKEA catalogue. With water: gravel, coal pit, herbs, paper pulp. Mouth (neat): perfect. A blade, with barley syrup, lemon juice, paraffin, and grass. Not many elements, but the balance is perfect. With water: wonderfully straight. Finish: long, grassy, austere in a good way. Chalky sauvignon (don’t Cadenhead order sauvignon blanc in bulk? But shh… ) Comments: a tad minimal, but perfect. In a way, this is what I would expect from Japanese whisky, but that’s probably just me.
SGP: 361- 87 points.

A trio, that would be enough. But let’s try to find an old one then… Ah, there…

Teaninich 32 yo 1983/2016 (51.8%, Adelphi, for Paul Ullrich Switzerland, cask #6753, 211 bottles)

Paul Ulrich is a great wine and spirits shop in Basel. They’re also importers and distributors – and cool, passionate people. Hoppla! Colour: gold. Nose: great young whisky is excellent, but it cannot beat great old whisky, that’s a fact, whatever may be said elsewhere. So, we’ve got wonderful oils and ointments here, waxes, a tarry/coastal side that reminds me of old Ardbeg (not making this up, by jove!), essential oils (mint, eucalyptus), red wood, citrons… In truth this is masterful. Where was this cask? With water: subtle resins and waxes are running the show. Car polish. Mouth (neat): exceptional, full, resinous, waxy, citrusy, medicinal, bandage-y, indeed pretty old-Ardbeggian, full of wee old resins and balms the recipes of which have been long forgotten… Well this is one amazing old whisky! With water: and it takes water very well. Stunning green sappy profile, with some propolis and many other kinds of natural waxes. Finish: long, perfect, waxy. Comments: well done Paul Ullrich, well done Adelphi! I seem to remember we’ve encountered some old Teaninichs that had a Clynelishy side before. This is just another wonderful example.
SGP:452 - 92 points.

We could have had some other Teaninichs, but frankly, after that marvelous 1983, that would have been mission impossible.

Check the index of all Teaninich we've tasted so far