Limited – UK or EU specialty shops

Worth a try for the enthusiast

For the details…

Most of the distilleries in Scotland’s remote northern Highlands lie a stone’s throw from the A9, which winds its way along the North Sea coast before ducking inland to make its final jaunt to Thurso, on the north coast. Many of the distilleries along the route are well known to malt enthusiasts, and even more casual drinkers. The town of Alness is home to one of the most well-known distilleries along the route, Dalmore, and also to what is probably the most obscure, Teaninich. 

The distillery’s low profile belies its production–it’s one of the workhorses of the Diageo portfolio, churning out more than 10,000,000 liters of spirit per year, mostly destined for the firm’s many blends. It is a rare Highland distillery to have taken out a license in 1817, prior to the passage of the Excise Act. Its founder, Hugh Munro, was a local landowner who had served in the Napoleonic Wars, and Teaninich remained in his family until 1850. A period of less stable ownership culminated with its takeover by Diageo predecessor DCL in 1933. 

As with many of its peers, Teaninich has been modified and expanded many times over the years, and in 1970, an entirely new distillery was built on the site. Old and new ran together in tandem until 1984, when the original facility finally closed. 

Pronounced “chee-nin-ick,” Teaninich is rarely bottled as a single malt by its owners, with the only regular bottling being this 10 year old in the Flora and Fauna range; there has also been at least one Rare Malts expression, when Diageo was still UDV, and a fairly recent 17 year old at cask strength, part of the annual special releases. Independent bottlings are fairly easy to come across. 

This 10 year old Flora and Fauna is a pleasant, somewhat retiring whisky, with a grassy, lightly smoky, and subtly chocolatey character, and like its peers in the range, it is an interesting take on a rarely-seen whisky, well worth trying if you come across it, and potentially worth buying for the connoisseur or collector.

Teaninich 10 year old (Flora and Fauna) 43% abv

Nose: Fresh-cut grass, leather (like a baseball glove), a hint of hard fruits and sweetness, tea.

Body: Medium to full, a bit oily.

Palate: Distinct smokiness, some sweetness, spiciness, and earthy, woody undertone; bitter dark chocolate.

Finish: Dry, a little woody, vegetal.

Score: 84/100

Who should buy it?: I’d say this one is more for the serious enthusiast. If you’re just getting into Scotch. It’s interesting and enjoyable, but not amazing, and its somewhat subtle character isn’t going to wow anyone, least of all those new to the category.

Overall thoughts: An appealing, rather subtle–even shy–whisky.

Bottling Information:

Expression: Teaninich 10 year old 43% abv

Bottler: Proprietor

Range: Flora and Fauna

Bottle Code: L8295LS000 502

Presentation: Unspecified

Details: n/a

Price: $50-60

Availability: The Flora and Fauna range is exclusively available in the UK and EU, so if you want a Flora and Fauna bottling, you’ll need to go an online retailer, for example The Whisky Exchange or Hard to find Whisky.

Distillery Information:

Region: Highlands

Location: Alness, Northern Highlands

Geography: Coastal

Date Founded: 1817

Owner: Diageo

Website: https://www.malts.com/en-us/

Capacity: 10,200,000

Plant Summary: MASH TUN: Hammer mill and mash filter; WASHBACKS: 8 Wood; STILLS: 6; HEAT SOURCE: Steam; CONDENSER: Shell and Tube

Total expressions sampled: 1

Overall distillery score: n/a

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