Teaninich 12 Year (1980), SMWS 59.2
Whisky: Teaninich 12 Year (1980), SMWS 59.2
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 66.1%
Cask: Oak
Age: 12 Years (Distilled Feb. 1980, Bottled May 1992)
Nose: Herbal, fruity, tea, buttery pastry, pineapple, jasmine and mint; musty, mineral oil, machine shop, occasionally chemical.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, fruity, citrusy, herbal tea, motor oil, garage, cigar box, cream, caramelized sugars, pepper, grassy.
Finish: Long and drying with tropical citrus, pineapple cannery debris, and dirty lawn mowers.
Score: 7-8 (86)
Mental Image: After Hours Auto-shop Tea Tasting
Narrative & Notes: Herbal and fruity, the aroma fell among pots of oolong tea and sweet buttery cakes full of lotus root and winter melon. Hints of tropical pineapple arrived with slightly floral jasmine and mint. Mustier notions of grape must, mineral oil, and lubricants in a machinist shop gathered steam with a hint of o-zone. Medium to full-bodied and occasionally creamy, the flavor profile was much the same as the nose with fruity, citrusy pastries and plenty of herbal tea. Motor oil and car garages were the site of the tea tasting, with an old cigar box fronting caramelized sugars and cracked pepper. The finish was long and drying with tropical citrus, pineapple cannery debris, and dirty lawn mowers.
There is an herbal quality to Teaninich that often reminds me of boba milk tea, especially when creamy and caramel notes come together as well. This had hints of those, as my prior experience with 1980s Teaninich did, but this workhorse distillery produced far dirtier whiskies than the very clean ones of today.
Among the tea, pastries, fruits, and cream were musty garages, tobacco, and lubricants— like a tea tasting in an auto-shop after hours. I thought those elements provided some grungy depth. The whisky was quite peppery, which was little surprise considering the elevated abv, something seemingly more common among whiskies of this era.
Overall, a delightful treat and blast from the past.
