Teaninich 11 Years Old 2007 Single Cask Cask Strength (Hart Brothers)

From Hart Brothers comes this Teaninich, an 11 year old Highland malt from 2007 and bottled at 58.1%. Teaninich, a large Highland distillery beside the River Averon at Alness, was first built in 1817. It stands near Dalmore and Glenmorangie in the Cromarty Firth country.

Mashed through a mash filter for an ultra clear wort and distilled in fat copper stills, giving the fresh, green spirit at its heart. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the green fruit. Younger here, it keeps a clean, grassy freshness over a waxy texture. Fat stills give a waxy texture that carries the cask flavour. A long fermentation builds the fresh, green fruit the blenders prize. A 2013 expansion added a new six still house, more than doubling capacity. Most casks are refill ex-Bourbon, which lets the grassy spirit show through. Captain Hugh Munro built the distillery to give his tenants' barley a buyer.

At a full 58.1% it is intense yet fresh. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with cut grass, green tea and a soft citrus. A green tea and a lemon note lift it. It finishes clean, fresh and grassy. This is a rare single malt from a blending giant.