La Famiglia Nostra 2011 LFN Neptune’s Cavalry

From La Famiglia Nostra comes this Teaninich, a 14 year old release from 2011 and bottled at 52.3%. Only 300 bottles were released. Teaninich, opened in 1817 on the Teaninich estate near the Cromarty Firth at Alness, is a key malt of Johnnie Walker. Single malt is rare; the Flora and Fauna 10 year old is the only regular official bottling.

Distilled on Highland spring water through fat copper stills, building the light Highland style blenders prize. A sherry cask wrapped the light spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper green fruit. The light, oily make takes cask character well across maturation. A long fermentation of around 75 hours builds the fresh, fruity notes. Filled spirit is tankered away to mature in Diageo's central warehouses. The name comes from the Gaelic for house on the hill, a nod to the old estate.

At its natural 52.3% it is concentrated. The Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle, and a fresh, oily grassiness meet honeyed oak sweetness underneath. The texture is light and oily, the grass threaded with honey. Green tea and a soft wax see out the finish. This is a light, grassy Highland single malt.