Yesterday brought a 1972 Rare Malts Teaninich. Today also brings a 1972 Rare Malts Teaninich. This one's casks must have been part of the same Swedish sauna parcel as yesterday's 23yo release, as this one flexes 64.2%abv at 27 years of age. The 23 needed some water to open up the palate, though the nose was spot on at full strength. Honestly, I've never had 27-year-old rocket fuel before, so I don't know what to expect.
Distillery: Teaninich
Ownership: Diageo
Region: Northern-ish Highlands
Range: Rare Malts
Age: 27 years old (1972 - October 2000)
Maturation: ???
Outturn: ???? bottles
Alcohol by Volume: 64.2%
(from a bottle split)
NEAT
A very cuddly nose: shortbread biscuits, sugar cookies, pound cake, apricots, and a hint of molasses. The real heat is in the palate. It registers hot, tangy, and sweet, with lots of oranges and cinnamon. The finish mostly matches the palate, though it adds a little salt.
A wee touch of water...
DILUTED to 100 UK proof, or 57.1%abv
The nose shifts slightly towards butterscotch chips, confectioner's sugar, and ocean air. Meanwhile, the palate opens up. It balances sweetness and minerals well. Lime lollies and orange popsicles. Perhaps a touch of dunnage in there too. The finish seems longer here, all oranges candies and lime candies.
Going to soften it up a little more...
DILUTED to 100 US proof, or 50%abv
Oh, I like where the nose is going with its apricots, sugar cookies, and dunnage funk. Barley takes front seat in the palate, with lemon cake and orange cranberry scones in the midground. Again, the finish matches the palate, though it adds some bitterness to balance the sweetness.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
Like the 23, this 27yo isn't the most complex whisky in this cluster, but it tastes delicious and smells intoxicating (sorry, that was an actual hand-written note). The nose works with or without water, but the palate needs some dilution to reveal its best sides. I don't know if anyone, two decades ago, spent time with a bottle of this stuff, experimenting to find its peak ABV. Perhaps there's a 90+ point whisky hidden in there. Or maybe it's just a very good drink.
Availability - Secondary market
Pricing - ????
Rating - 88