The Basics:
Do I recommend it?: Yes
Availability: UK-based specialty retail
ABV: 55.6% abv (cask strength)
Presentation: Unchillfiltered and natural color
General information: Rye cask finish
Bottling type: Independent
Character: Honeyed, spicy, herbal and nutty
Score: 92/100
The details:
Diageo’s workhorse distillery in the northern highlands, Teaninich (pronounced chee-nin-nick), churns out over 10 million liters of alcohol per annum. Teaninich is located in the coastal village of Alness, more famous for the Dalmore distillery. Despite its relative obscurity, Teaninich, founded in 1817, actually predates Dalmore by nearly two decades.
Unlike Dalmore, proprietary bottlings of Teaninich are fairly rare, restricted to a 10 year old in the Flora and Fauna range, and occasional one-offs, however, there are numerous independent bottlings, such as this gem from Alistair Walker.
Although the Scotch industry has been using American Standard Barrels for decades, it is typically ex-bourbon wood, and maturation or even finishing using ex-rye casks has been fairly uncommon, although it is becoming moreso (the new distillery on Raasay has used rye casks for several of its releases). This rye-finished Teaninich gestures at the herbal character typically associated with the distillery, but also has a healthy dose of honey and plenty of spice that seems attributable to the cask.
Infrequent Flyers Teaninich 14 55.6% abv
Bottling Information:
Bottler: Alistair Walker Whisky Co
Range: Infrequent Flyers
Bottle Code: CBSC4 12029 10.03.23 11:03
Details: Finished in a rye barrel #1810, 1 of 249 bottles; distilled 2008, bottled 2023, release #99
Price: $90
Availability: Specialty retail (UK)
Distillery Information:
Region: Highlands (Northern)
Location: Alness
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: 2
Overall distillery score: n/a
Tasting notes:
Nose: Very inviting–lightly spiced and honeyed, with clear rye notes. There’s also a hint of fresh herbs, perhaps sweetish dill. Spiced apple cider. Becoming more honeyed, with hints of coriander and cinnamon, then more doughy.
Body: Medium, soft, rather plump.
Palate: Like biting into a baklava–huge hit of honey, pastry, and light spice, and even a vague hint of pistachios. Deliciously honeyed, with an almost brandy-like character. Lightly gingery. Becoming more pastry like, and there’s even a slight saline edge. Very moreish.
Finish: Flaky apple turnovers; longish, drying away to dried grass and very light spice.
Score: 92/100
Who should buy it?: This one is worthwhile for any general whisky drinker. If you can’t stand anything unpeated, or don’t like cask strength whisky, or some other such quirk, you might not appreciate it, but beyond that, I don’t think you’ll go wrong here.
Overall thoughts: Over the years, I’ve gotten more touchy about overactive casks. I approach any first-fill sherry with some trepidation, especially if the spirit being filled is on the more delicate, light-bodied end of the spectrum–and I’m generally suspicious of finishes, especially overbearing ones like Pedro Ximenez or ruby port. This rye-finished Teaninich feels like a nice feat, balancing distillery character with an interesting twist from the cask finish. Good stuff!
If you enjoyed this review and would like to make a small donation to support this site, please click here.
Whisky Considered 