Teaninch 30yo 1975/2006 Dewar Rattray Cask Collection cask 9419

Teaninich distillery is located in Alness, making it another Eastern Highlander.

Built in 1817, the original 4 still distillery chugged along till 1970, when a new distillery with 6 stills was built adjacent to the old Teaninich. The crisis of the 1980s saw the original 4 still distillery closed and the expansion mothballed till 1991. Old Teaninich was demolished in 1999, leaving the somewhat modern looking buildings seen below:

Great plans for Teaninich have been announced though, Diageo will solidify Teaninich’s position as a blending malt with a GBP12 mil expansion, doubling its output, as well as building a huge new as yet unnamed distillery next door with 16 stills. Press release here. The purpose of all this is primarily blending of course, when you remember that Teaninich is a major component of Johnnie Walker Red Label, it all makes sense.

Not many Teaninich OBs, back to the independents then:

Teaninch 30yo 1975/2006 Dewar Rattray Cask Collection cask 9419

486 bottles, 60.8% – not a typo, must have been some huge restaved barrel the size of a butt to produce 486 bottles after 30 years.

  Nose:  Powerful, big bright citrus and mint. Reined in by equally big aromatic old wood and vanillins. Then malty and warm herbs (oregano?). That woody perfume is everywhere, and talc? With water: More wood scents – vanilla, sandalwood, rounded fresh fruit, and richly herbal.

  Palette: Medium weight but complex, malty sweet, unlit tobacco, peppery hot and more woody aromas. With water: More dry leaves, dry spice. More fruitiness. Still a big whisky.

  Finish: Long and malt, with sour notes.

Not an easy whisky to follow, powerful at 30 and complex in a closely knitted way.

June 2023 – After 9 years, it seems an apology is in order. Revisiting this, I see how this was difficult for my nose then. It’s not a simple whisky, which in addition to its subtlety makes it difficult to appreciate early on. Now I am struck by the soft waxes, crayon oiliness, aromatic oak without the heaviness and gentle chalk. There is definitely something deliciously bourbonesque floral lurking about. Wafting ripe green fruit and whole waxed citrons. Something savoury herbal also sits at the back of the nose. All in all  much more is going on than at first glance, and the alcohol hinders yet bolsters these scents at times. Still this should be revised to a solid 88 pts.