Teaninich 13 Years Old 2011 Cask #711942 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

Single malt Teaninich, selected and bottled by The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd matured to 13 year old from 2011, drawn from cask 711942 and bottled at 51%. The outturn was 348 bottles. Teaninich was established in 1817 in Easter Ross, north of Inverness; it is one of Diageo's largest distilleries. Its make is a key part of Johnnie Walker, Haig and VAT 69.

The spirit was made from a mash filter wort for a clean, grassy spirit, for a clean, oily make of real freshness. A sherry cask wrapped the light spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller, oilier body over the grass. Most Teaninich is filled into refill ex-Bourbon, letting the make show through. The name comes from the Gaelic for house on the hill, a nod to the old estate. By the 1970s Teaninich was already one of the largest distilleries in Scotland.

At a hearty 51% it carries real weight. The Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle, and vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under a clean, green fruitiness. A green tea and a lemon note lift it. It finishes clean, fresh and grassy. This is a fresh, oily Highland single malt.