Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025

Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apricots, pencil lead, wet stones, ice cream soda, dried mangoes, hints of white pepper. With water, magic marker, wet stones, pencil lead, dried mangoes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried mangoes, wet stones, pencil l dead, white pepper, gooseberries, white grapes, hints of nutmeg. With water, cream, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, nutmeg, gooseberries, dried apricots, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Fruity and feinty, lots of interesting layered dried fruit, but not very estery. That is, until water is added, and then the pear drops / magic marker notes come out. Very good indeed, even for a Teaninich.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 13yo 2011/2024

Teaninich 13yo 2011/2024

Glaschu Spirits Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tobacco leaf, apricots, menthol, camphor, orange peel, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, sandalwood, camphor, raisins, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, nutmeg, malted grains, raisins. 

Comments: 

Plenty of stone fruit but also a lot of bitter herbal notes such as camphor. Nutmeg is prominent, especially in the finish as is a smoky oakiness. Quite tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 45yo 1975/2021

Teaninich 45yo 1975/2021

Highland Laird, Bartels Rawlings International
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber gold
49.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pencil lead, honey, wet stones, bananas, dates, kiwifruit, dried mangoes, pomegranate molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, mouth coating, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pencil lead, dried mangoes, honey, fresh baked bread, pomegranate molasses, dates, vanilla sponge, cream. 
Finish: Long. Dried mangoes, pencil lead, wet stones, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge. 

Comments: 

Cask 14796. Fruity and complex, lots of luscious cooked and dried fruit notes. But there’s a sharp, almost metallic, hit of pencil lead, and flinty stone. It tastes mouth puckering, even though it really isn’t. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 2010 Firkin Rare

Teaninich 2010 Firkin Rare

Firkin Rare, The Firkin Whisky Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber, hints of red
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, cloves, malted grains, damson jam, caramel, hints of dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slippery, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Brown paper, malted grains, rhubarb and custard sweets, damson jam, malted grains, black tea, cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Cask SC65. Highly sherried, lots of very jammy things, and some bready cereal and cinnamon. It’s not got very much distillery character anymore, but it’s rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

2013, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber, hints of gold
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, photocopy paper, pineapples, green tea, sandalwood, hints of pear drops. With water, magic marker, pineapples, photocopy paper. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, oily, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green tea, malted grains, yoghurt, white pepper, sandalwood, peaches, hints of wet stones. With water, smoke, leather, pineapples, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Wet stones, yoghurt, fresh baked bread, peaches, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Complex and minerally, this whisky still tastes bright and vibrant despite its age. Plenty of tannic, feinty notes dominate some mild fruit and spice. Very good indeed, excellent old highland whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 1975 (bottled 1989)

Teaninich 1975 (bottled 1989)

Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, leather, sultanas, pineapples, honey, clay dust, peaches, sandalwood, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, expands, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, black tea, camphor, Chinese angelica, honey, sultanas, peaches, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, honey, peaches, leather, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Sweet and meaty, lots of tropical fruit notes, but it’s buried under a lot of old bottle effect. It turns the whisky herbal and savoury. Normally I would really enjoy that effect, but I think in this case, it’s obscured some of the more interesting flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 12yo 2009/2021

Teaninich 12yo 2009/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - North Highlands 
Straw
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, fresh cut grass, sour cream, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of pineapples. With water, sweeter, toffee, cinnamon, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cinnamon, lemon zest, oats, barley sugar, fresh cut grass, black tea, hints of sour cream. With water, sweeter, barley sugar, toffee, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, sour cream, cola nuts, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite a cereally Teaninich, not much of the usual grass or tropical fruit. There’s some spiciness, and lactic sourness, and something distressingly oaty, almost like dish soap.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 8yo 2013/2021

Teaninich 8yo 2013/2021

Carn Mor
Single malt - North Highlands 
Amber gold 
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, blackcurrants, malted grains, red grapes, lemon zest, barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Blackcurrants, honey, dark chocolate, black tea, jasmine, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, dark chocolate, barley sugar, honey, jasmine, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy, this Teaninich is quite young, but the low ABV does bring out certain notes, such as the distillate’s malty character. It has a long, fragrant, floral finish, and is quite refreshing.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 20yo 1983/2003

Teaninich 20yo 1983/2003

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pound cake, marzipan, orange peel, leather, cedar, vanilla, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, vanilla, honey, marzipan, lohan fruit, black tea, smoke, sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, honey, smoke, orange peel, sea salt, cedar. 

Comments: 

Lovely Teaninich, fruity with a whisper of peat, and quite a bit of old bottle effect. There’s a spicy, woody note that I recall appears in the best Japanese whiskies. This isn’t Japanese, but it ranks among the best.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 13yo 2005/2019

Teaninich 13yo 2005/2019

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale straw
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, white grapes, hazelnuts, brass polish. With water, white chocolate, white grapes, starfruit, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, starfruit, nectarines, fresh cut grass, hazelnuts, kiwifruit, hints of dried apricots. With water, sweeter, malted grains, lemon zest, white chocolate, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Nectarines, wet stones, white grapes, brass polish. 

Comments: 

Cask 487. This is a style of whisky that I like very much, all stone fruit, tropical fruit, but with a herbal, even minerally edge. It takes water very well, becoming sweeter and slightly fruitier. Mmmm. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 33yo 1973/2006

Teaninich 33yo 1973/2006

Mission Cask Strength, Murray McDavid
Single malt - North Highlands
Dandelion 
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, jackfruit, leather, tobacco leaf, pear drops, hints of white grapes. With water, cucumbers, fresh cut grass, white grapes.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns airy, slightly fizzy, astringent. 
Tasting: Sour bitter. Tobacco leaf, white grapes, leather, green tea, cucumbers, butterscotch, hints of jackfruit. With water, cucumbers, fresh cut grass, winter melon, green tea, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, cucumbers, menthol, leather. 

Comments: 

Lingering, and complex. There’s some jackfruit fermentedness to this whisky, sweet and funky. Neat, that is. Water opens it up, creating a more herbaceous, floral set of top notes. Lovely and delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 12yo 2006/2019

Teaninich 12yo 2006/2019

Hidden Spirits Whisky Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Silvery
51.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, barley sugar, leather, honeydew melons, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, static. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, pears, hints of barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, pear drops, lemon sweets, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Cask TH619. My second expression from this Italian bottler, and I was very impressed - the whiskies this bloke (and it is, I think, a very small operation) manages to find are very good indeed. This one is sweet with lots of citrus and fruit notes, and an intense tannic bite on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Teaninich 17yo (200th Anniversary Release)

Teaninich 17yo (200th Anniversary Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Sunshine gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melon, cucumber, lemon zest, rolled oats, cornflakes, hints of toast, hints of white grapes. With water, cucumber, cantaloupes, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cucumber, lemon zest, cornflakes, toast, leather, lemon curd, hints of marmalade. With water, leather, cornflakes, cantaloupes, red peppercorns, rolled oats. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, rolled oats, lemon zest, winter melon. 

Comments: 

High proof Teaninich of a decent age. Lots of complexity, cucumber and all sorts of melon, with a little teensy hint of smoke on the tongue and the finish. Lots of spice and cereal too, lots going on in here. The finish is a little smoky, and melony. Gorgeous.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 18yo 1999/2018

Teaninich 18yo 1999/2018

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - North Highlands
Sunshine
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, vanilla, custard, honeydew melons, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, bananas, honey, lemon zest, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, honey, lemons, hints of toffee. 

Comments: 

DL Cask 12675. A floral, summery, light dram. It's quite gentle, almost fragile in its flavour profile. Water kills it, even a little lingering taste in the mouth from something else might ruin it. It's best to drink this one neat, and with a fresh palate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 10 yo Flora & Fauna

Teaninich 10 yo Flora & Fauna

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, raisins, cola nuts, sarsaparilla, prunes, hints of applesauce. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, prunes, applesauce, white grapes, hints of sarsaparilla. 
Finish: Long. Coconut cream, applesauce, sarsaparilla, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

A rather jammy, fragrant cola, like a really good alcoholic root beer. I really like this one a lot, it's satisfying on so many levels - good complexity, pleasant mouthfeel, excellent variety of flavours. Excellent whisky, great price as well!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 59.38 (Teaninich 25 yo 1982/2008)

SMWS 59.38 (Teaninich 25 yo 1982/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Pink gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, peanuts, juniper, roses, lemons, vanilla, mint, hints of apple.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peanuts, vanilla, apples, lemons, mint, apples, honey. With water, butter, pears.
Finish: Long. Peaches, apples, vanilla, peanuts.

Comments:

Slightly nutty, lots of mint, floral, and actually quite substantial. I think I could almost drink this for dinner, as it is at once sweet and savoury. There's an impression of fat (butter) which makes this almost chewy in the mouth.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 59.32 (Teaninich 21 yo 1983/2005)

SMWS 59.32 (Teaninich 21 yo 1983/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Sun gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, raisins, rum, salt caramel, hints of ginger, hints of apple.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, hot, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Popcorn, raisins, salt caramel, galangal, ginger, apple crumble, butter, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Honeydew melon, apple, ginger, soursop, new plastic.

Comments:

Tastes quite strong despite coming in a tad under 55% ABV. Not very easy drinking - a little too harsh on the tongue. Still, this whisky rewarded some quiet reflection sitting in the corner. Interesting ketone-y notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Honey gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Minty, honey, apple, pear, peach, vanilla, hints of juniper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, honey consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Earl grey tea, honey, orange peel, apple, salt caramel, leather, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Dumplings, gravy, vanilla, peat, salt caramel.

Comments:

Fruity and a little savoury. Nice hints of leather, almost chewy with this consistency. Maybe a little like chewing someone's old leather belt, slathered with jam (doesn't sound very appealing, I know)? Nice notes of dumplings and gravy in the finish. It may sound weird, but it really isn't.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 59.37 (Teaninich 24 yo 1983/2008)

SMWS 59.37 (Teaninich 24 yo 1983/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
White wine
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salted butter, lemons, vanilla, fresh-cut grass, wet stones, hints of fish sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thin, thickens slightly in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Starfruit, clotted cream, guava, peanuts, hints of chocolate.
Finish: Long. Soy sauce, yuzu, hints of diesel exhaust.

Comments:

Complex, and takes a long time to give up its secrets. Very drinkable despite the strength, and there was a lot of new things in each sip. Primarily buttery and tangy, but with curious salty and bitter notes after a little aeration. Water doesn't really add much, draws out the diesel fumes in the finish a little, perhaps.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!