Teaninich (2016/2023) - Sansibar
Teaninich is one of those Scottish distilleries that rarely appear as an original bottling - making the releases from independent bottlers all the more exciting. Zanzibar has taken on Teaninich, which was distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2023, and bottled it at a whopping 60.2 % ABV.
The panel
Mean 72.0 · spread 0
Value for money 3/5
- Distillery
- Teaninich
- Bottler
- Sansibar
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 7 years
- Strength
- 60.2% ABV
- Character
- mellow
Tasting
Nose
From the very first sniff, you realise that this is not a typical Highland whisky. Instead of heavy sherry or smoky notes, you get a surprisingly fresh and light fruity nose. Vanilla and citrus are in the foreground, accompanied by a fine herbal note reminiscent of herbal tea. The alcohol is noticeable, but not disturbing - you realise that the whisky has strength. All in all, a very exciting, lively flavour!
Palate
The first sip brings with it an oily, almost syrupy texture. In terms of flavour, it starts with a clear vanilla note before fresh lemon and apricot come into play. Then it becomes more exotic: a hint of rose water provides a slightly floral note. The wood is also noticeable, but without overwhelming the whisky. The honey sweetness provides balance, but the strength of the high alcohol content is always present. A small drop of water can help to develop the flavours even better.
Finish
The finish is medium to long, but not quite as harmonious as hoped. The fresh wood remains in the foreground, accompanied by a slight bitterness that makes the whisky appear somewhat unrounded.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Teaninich is a real character with a fantastic freshness and a solid punch – perfect for anyone who isn’t afraid of young, intense Highland whiskies. Sure, the woodiness and bitterness in the finish aren’t to everyone’s taste, but that’s exactly what makes it exciting and lively. A few drops of water are almost mandatory here to round off the experience.
Sascha
The Teaninich 2016/2023 presents itself with a clear structure of bright fruit notes, vanilla, and subtle herbs, all shaped by the high alcohol strength. Despite its robust 60.2% ABV, it feels quite balanced, although the slightly bitter woody tone in the finish somewhat disrupts the harmony. Adding water is recommended to more finely bring out the balance between sweetness and spice.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Teaninich as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £99 across 83 lots · 2024-08