Chorlton Whisky Teaninich 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

David Bennett, a resident of Chorlton, Manchester, selects casks that are more orthodox than some of the newer Indie bottlers out there, preferring to stick with ex-bourbon maturation over sherry and wine. His whiskies are rarely “finished” and usually fully matured in the one cask. It's an approach we tend to sympathise with, as it gives the distillate a better showing - warts and all. Nothing gets obscured by secondary maturation. In Bennet's words, "No monkey business, basically." Here's a great place to start: This has to be one of the most attractive noses on a Teaninich for quite some time. Fruit pastries, peaches, pears, beeswax and vanilla cream come with a delicate espresso coffee bitterness, all nuanced by the faintest sweet smoke. In the mouth an early malted cereal character gives way to hints of papaya and crisp apple. Grapefruit, wood spices and warming alcohol rise at the finish with baked orchard fruits and beeswax in tow. Teaninich's are usually reliable, but this one's impressive, especially for its age. 320 bottles were drawn from an ex-bourbon hogshead. 54.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill-filtered.

Notes from the bottlers... A lovely cask from this under-appreciated Highland distillery! The nose has peachy yellow fruits, pine needles, malted milk biscuits and some Highlandsy touches of soot and minerals. The palate is lightly waxy, with lovely citrussy syrups, cornflake cakes, hazelnut and pear tart, and a super-clean and slightly herbal finish. A perfect dram for the spring and summer.