Showing posts with label Teaninich 1999. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teaninich 1999. Show all posts

Teaninich 1999


“Ticket to the Tropics”


Whisky Review # 1036

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Northern Highlands
Brand: Teaninich 1999
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Diageo Special Release - 5352 Bottles
Age: 17 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 55.9%
Maturation: Refill American Oak Hogsheads and perhaps some Sherry Butts
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 200-300 (October 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Pretty stiff for a relatively unknown distillery
Buying Advice: 😐 It's not bad but really expensive

Colour: Light Golden Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please avoid nosing in the middle of the glass as the Alcohol is relatively strong. It is pretty Light and Fresh for a 17 year old Single Malt. This Teaninich presents a slightly Hot, Dry and Medium-Sweet mix of Fruity, Floral and Cereal notes. Not bad but a little unpretentious.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast & Margarine, Vanilla, Dough, Grass & Straw, Orange, Lemon, Mandarin, Pear, Melon, Banana, Floral Perfume, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Salted Caramel, Wax, Grapefruit, Apple, Nectarine, Pineapple, Nuts and Nutshells, Dairy, Wet Rocks/Paper, Dusty Track, Marzipan, Ginger, Mint and hints of Tobacco, Leather and Varnish. After 15 minutes of Nosing I thought I got some Apricot-filled Puff-Pastry but it vanished quickly.


Palate:

I kinda like the Waxy mouthfeel although it's a little on the Thin side. The Palate is a Fruity mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. Quite Dry and slightly Hot.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Grass and Straw, Wax, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Green Herbs & Vegetables, Candy with Tropical Fruit Flavour (Pineapple, Banana, Papaya, Nectarine), Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Dough, Dusty Track, Grapefruit, Gooseberry, Nuts, Banana, Green Apple, Pear, Wet Stones, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Ginger and Mint.


Finish
:


Middle-Long and very Dry. It's a mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes with a bit of Salt as well. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Green Herbs and Vegetables, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Gooseberries, Green Apple & Pear, Banana, Nectarine, Nuts, Dusty Track, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Licorice and Acetone. A light Alcohol Burn in the end.

Drinking Advice:

A little Water helps to battle the Heat of course but it does not improve the Aroma and Flavour profile of this Teaninich. Despite the Alcohol I prefer it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course and I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

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 & 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. The Limited Edition that I'm reviewing today was launched in 2017 to celebrate the 200th birthday of the distillery. Teaninich is the 3rd largest Diageo distillery and produces over 10 million litres per year.

If you like Citrus Fruit and Tropical Fruit Cocktails you will certainly enjoy this Malt although it is very Dry and slightly Hot. It has a mind of his own and that's rare these days. It's a pity that it's so expensive. People should be able to get to know this relatively unknown distillery, as far as Single Malts are concerned, at a more accessible price level. Because Teaninich certainly has Single Malt potential and I can also see the value of the Fruity Spirit in Blended Whiskies. But at this price level this knowledge will not reach a broad public and that's a pity.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    October 10, 2024