Teaninich 34 yo 1971/2006 (44.7%, JWWW Auld Distillers, Bourbon cask, 204 bottles)
Colour: gold. Nose: oh, now we’re on another planet. We do have these very fruity, but slightly austere notes (I got that in an old Cadenhead dumpy),
like grapefruit again, citron, rubbed orange peel and then something very nicely mineral (austerity again!) Wet chalk, limestone, hints of moist plaster,
gin… And then it gets quite farmy, with something peaty, hay, ‘clean’ horse dung – and also lots of herbs such as chive, fresh coriander, parsley. Hints
of chocolate as well. Frankly, it’s a superb nose, beautifully balanced and with lots of presence. Very, very ‘serious’. An anti-made up malt? Mouth:
it’s very coherent, but maybe it’s a little too austere now. Quite some tannins right from the start, green pepper, flour, bitter chocolate powder… A
certain lack of sweetness, like in many very old malts. Don’t get me wrong, it’s easily bearable but you really have to love dryness. The malt gets then
grassy and vegetal, rather bitter, peppery, with notes of ultra-strong liquorice and strong herb liqueur (it reminds me of Underberg, do you know that?)
And then, good news we do have a little sweetness coming through (a little caramel, apple juice). But the whole remains quite drying, just like the medium
long, but very ‘powdery’ finish. Very, very serious stuff indeed! The nose was absolutely great but maybe the palate is a bit tired… It still deserves
87 points, that is. Ah yes, music… Something rough, ‘ancient’ and ‘dry’ but still rather ‘easy’, like, yes, Steve Coleman’s ‘Transits’ (on ‘Myths,
Modes And Means’)
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