Teaninich Flora & Fauna Review

“Blend It” (*)

Country: Scotland

Region: Northern Highlands  

Brand: Teaninich Flora & Fauna

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 43%

Colour: Light Gold/Straw

Nose: Certainly more Flora than Fauna! I find Fruity and Floral tones like Apple, Orange, Pear, Straw, Grass and Floral Fragrances. It's all quite Light and Clean. Additionally I smell Buttered Toast, Malt, Dough, Rice Vinegar, Pineapple Juice, Herbs, Oak and light Varnish. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. From time to time the Nose reminded me of light Irish Whiskey. It's okay I guess but nothing to get excited about.

Palate: Dry, Sour-Sweet and Buttery with Barley, Toffee, light Vanilla, Dried Herbs, Pepper, Oak, Salted Butter, Orange - and Lemon Zest and light Honey.

Finish: Middle-Long, slightly Sour and Bitter Sweet with Orange, Fresh Herbs, Straw, Toffee, Pepper, Nut Shells, light Varnish or Acetone, Mint and a distant hint of Dark Chocolate. I wouldn't be surprised if a reasonable amount of Teaninich goes into the JW Red and Black Blends.

With a bit of Water I find more Malt, English Marmalade, Vanilla, Buttered Toast and light Honey on the Nose. Palate and Finish become quite Floral but also very Thin. Better sip this Teaninich neat. 

Rating: 80.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5

General Remarks: The Teaninich distillery was founded in 1817 by Captain Hugh Monro just south of the village of Alness. In 1933 DCL bought the distillery and subsequent mergers and take-overs brought it under the wings of the Diageo Group. The Spirit is mainly used in the Johnnie Walker Blends. There are some exceptions. In 1992, the 10 Year Old I'm reviewing today was introduced as part of the Flora & Fauna Series. Flora & Fauna has been discontinued in the meantime and it gets harder and harder to find this expression. It sells at an average 65 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: The Light, Fruity and Floral Teaninich Spirit is without any doubt quite suitable for Blends. On a stand alone basis however it's Clean to a point where I really would like to see some more Depth and Complexity. It's okay as a Summer Malt with perhaps a little bit of Ice but at 65 US Dollars I can find better and cheaper alternatives like Glenfiddich or The Glenlivet. It was nice to taste an expression that gets rarer all the time but at the same time I do now appreciate why Teaninich Spirit is hardly ever sold as Single Malt. 

(*) Bend It was a hit single for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich in 1966.

Jan van den Ende                                                        November 30, 2014

Picture Credit: Lion's