Firkin Rare Teaninich 2009

IT’S A FIRKIN UNICORN! A 12 year old, Double Oaked Tawny Port matured, extremely rare Single Malt from the Scottish Highlands, finished with a bit of FIRKIN magic! The Firkin Rare Teaninich 2009.

When whisky legend, Mike Collings (the guy that created Johnny Walker Blue and Green among many others), releases something new to the world – it’s wise to check it out. When he told me last year about an upcoming couple of his ‘double wood’ casks full of 2009 Teaninich I was all ears. Not only is any single malt bottling of Teaninich extremely rare (spirits giant Diageo uses most of it in their various blended whiskies), to get a bottling that’s been ‘touched’ by the Firkin magic is a bit of a unicorn. After a bit of too-ing and fro-ing – we managed to secure the entire Australian allotment of the aptly titled Firkin Rare Teaninich 2009.

Now, the Firkin Whisky Co are independent bottlers – but they have a major difference to most. They find aged whisky, then finish it in their own ‘custom casks – It’s a magical 2-stage process that produces some of the best whisky on the planet.

The first stage is the construction of their own ‘double wood’ casks. These casks are made of alternative 1st fill American Bourbon and New French oak staves. The deep-char ex-bourbon staves add characteristic vanilla notes whilst the lightly toasted char of French oak imparts aromatic roasted coffee notes. The combination of 2 different woods and char levels creates a bespoke oak profile and a custom cask totally unique to Firkin.

Stage two of the Firkin process is called ‘Soulmate Pairing’ by Mike. Each whisky is matched to a type fortified wine which will bring out the best in that whisky. The coopered casks are soaked with the selected soulmate wine for around 6 months prior to filling and then left for up to 2 years to develop an impressive depth of flavour. Neither the original distillery nor any other independent bottler goes to these lengths to curate a single malt like this

THe Firkin Rare Teaninich 2009 is a Teaninich malt, distilled in 2009 in the Highlands of Scotland. The Firkin team Double oaked matured Tawny Port Casks for 12 years. Presented at 48.9% and (of course) non-chill filtered and no artificial colouring. Just FIRKIN great whisky.

Nose: Fresh, tart apple juice jumps out at first, but then a rounder, sweeter note comes through –ripe plums and vanilla.

Palate: Crisp and clean mouthfeel –a little pepper but no real heat. Lots of red fruit up front – sweet plums and ripe red grapes morph into malty milk arrowroot bikkies.

Finish: Very pleasing – vanilla becomes more pronounced and swirls around seeing the fruit out. A nice malty- sweetness remains at the end to chew on whilst you pour the next one (yes, you will pour a next one!).

A light, yet complex dram. A bit of a Firkin enigma, really. Dry and crisp, yet sweet and juicy. Fruity, yet malty. The 48.9% gives it sufficient kick, and avoids the heat. The Firkin Rare Teaninich 2009 is nicely balanced all round! Nice one, Mr. Collings!