Teaninich – 2014/2022 8 Year Old First Fill Koval Rye Cask Murray McDavid (70cl, 46%)

This is an eight-year-old Teaninich from the Highlands, distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2022 by Murray McDavid for its Benchmark series. It matured first in bourbon hogsheads, then spent two and a half years in first-fill Koval rye casks that previously held rye whiskey from the Chicago distillery. The Koval casks hold 110 litres, smaller than a standard hogshead, so the wood has more contact with the whisky. The edition draws on nine casks and yielded 1,299 bottles at 46%. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colour. The nose offers cinnamon and vanilla over roasted malt. On the palate there is cooked apple, nut brittle and oak spice, and the finish is creamy, with sweet and savoury notes together.