Teaninich 30 Years Old 1983 Cask #DL 10438 (XOP)

A Teaninich single malt, picked by Douglas Laing, a 30 year old release from 1983, drawn from cask DL 10438 and bottled at 53.8%. A release of 200 bottles. Teaninich was opened in 1817 on the Teaninich estate in Easter Ross, north of Inverness; it is a key malt of Johnnie Walker. 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. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. Long ageing brings a deeper waxy, fruity character and a mellow oak. A patient maturation suits the light, grassy Teaninich character. The Munro family ran the distillery through two generations before selling. The Cromarty Firth nearby is one of few UK waters home to bottlenose dolphins. A long fermentation of around 75 hours builds the fresh, fruity notes.

Undiluted at 53.8%, it is layered. Vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under green apple, grass and a light honey. Beneath it run cut grass, citrus and a soft wax. Cut grass and citrus draw out the close. This is a fresh, waxy Highland single malt.