I started the week with a bourbon cask Bowmore bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society that I thought was excellent. May as well make bourbon casks the theme for this week. Accordingly, here is a young Teaninich, distilled in 2007 and bottled by Berry Bros. & Rudd in 2019. Mind, these days 11 years is not terribly young for single malt whisky. And I’m sure this was not priced like an 11 yo of days of yore. Or maybe it was— I don’t think the current insanity in the whisky market had yet begun to approach its peak in 2019. Anyway, Berry Bros. & Rudd rarely indicate the cask type on their labels, and this one was no exception. It’s safe to say though—via a look and a quick sniff—that this was an ex-bourbon cask. Though whether first-fill, second-fill or refill is unknown; and the cask’s outturn not being mentioned on the label either, it’s hard to know whether this was a hogshead or a barrel—though perhaps the whisky itself will offer some clues. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Teaninich 11, 2007 (55.9%; Berry Bros. & Rudd; cask 702605; from a bottle split)

Nose: A nice fruity opening with lemon peel and apple mixed in with malt. A bit of cream on the second sniff and then some brine. As it sits the lemon turns to lime and it picks up some mineral edges as well (chalk). The fruit gets a bit muskier as it goes. Continues in this vein. A few drops of water amplify the acid and the mineral notes.

Palate: Comes in exactly as indicated by the nose and then there’s a burst of white pepper as I swallow. Quite approachable at full strength with oily texture. More chalk here too with time but it works well with everything else. Sharper here too with water but the sweetness builds as I swallow.

Finish: Long. The lime and the salt linger and then the pepper pops out again. As on the palate with time and water—getting sweeter as it goes.

Comments: A very nice whisky in that Highlands style that is simultaneously fruity and austere. Good, honest malt whisky of a kind I’d enjoy drinking every night. The lack of major oak impact suggests a hogshead and probably not a first-fill.

Rating: 87 points.