Teaninich 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #1 (Signatory)

Single malt Teaninich, picked by Signatory Vintage, a 13 year old release from 2009, drawn from cask 1 and bottled at 48.7%. Only 803 bottles were released. Teaninich was established in 1817 in Easter Ross, north of Inverness; it is one of Diageo's largest distilleries. There are no warehouses on site; the spirit is matured in Diageo's central stores.

The spirit was made from a mash filter wort for a clean, grassy spirit, for a clean, oily make of real freshness. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Past a decade the grass deepens, the wax and a soft honey building over green fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the grass and wax deepening with age. By the 1970s Teaninich was already one of the largest distilleries in Scotland. The River Averon runs beside the distillery on its way to the firth.

At 48.7%, undiluted, it is deep and grassy. The Oloroso adds figgy fruit and a warm nuttiness, and vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under green apple, grass and a light honey. It is fresh and clean, the green spirit shining through. It closes clean, grassy and waxy. This is a fresh, waxy Highland single malt.