Teerenpeli 3yo, 2014-2017, Tervaisen Savuinen Grillikastike

ABV: 61.7%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery (bottled for Erityisten Herrasmiesten Yksityinen Pullote)

Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Cask (84 btl.)

 

Colour: Chestnut oloroso.
Nose: Subtle peat on the nose, mixed with smoke, burnt caramel, leather and tobacco notes. Oily with herbs, lovage and oregano. A fruity touch of blood orange with tender pepper in the back. Surprisingly, although the alcohol content is quite high and the whisky's very young, it isn't pungent at all.
Palate: At first, bold, intense and pleasantly sweet on the palate. However, a powerful spiciness and warmth immediately spreads in the mouth so that one can hardly breath. Then creamy notes of fruit, oranges and plums emerge, followed by tobacco leaves and tender peat smoke. Extremely mouth-coating.
Finish: The finish is medium-long and warm accompanied by a slightly bitter fruitiness of oranges and grapefruit. A bitter touch of grape seeds and subtle nutty flavours linger on the tail.
With water: A splash of water tames the peat smoke, the fruitiness and reduces also the herbal notes on the nose. Few more bitter flavours emerge. Still bold and intense on the palate with a delicate fruitiness of oranges, plums and a touch of mint in the back. Warming with a slightly decreased spiciness of oak, pepper and cinnamon. The finish is medium-long, warm and creamy with bitter notes of oranges, grapefruit and hints of leather.
Comments: This single malt whisky from Finland is very powerful and almost uncompromising. Intense spiciness and warmth, combined with a creamy fruitiness and nicely wrapped in fine peat smoke. For its very young age, the alcohol is already good integrated. A few more years of ageing, however, would have been better for this dram, at least in my opinion.

 

I thank Henrik Malmberg for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli 4yo, VYS, Distiller's Choice
ABV: 61.7%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°°
Bottling: Distillery (bottled for Viskin Ystävien Seura)

Cask type: Bourbon Quarter Casks, finished in Madeira Casks

 

Colour: Pale amber.
Nose: A fruity start on the nose with a nice potpourri of stewed fruits - quince, apricots and white peaches. Creamy with vanilla and a whiff of mint. The alcohol is very present but not really pungent. Behind that there's a touch of oak and pepper spice.
Palate: Bold and intense on the palate with a delicate sweetness of malt, barley sugar, and vanilla accompanied by stewed apricots, peaches and slightly bitter grape peel. This is followed by a warming spiciness of pepper and a hint of oak mixed with an alcoholic bite. A whiff of peat smoke towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is quite long and very warm. Becomes fairly spicy with black pepper, dry oak and a slightly bitter touch of grape peel with subtle tobacco notes.
With water: A splash of water brings more fruity notes to the fore. The whisky becomes lighter and fresher, however, with an increased spiciness and even a touch of peat smoke in the background. The intensity and warmth is significantly tamed on the palate while the lovely sweetness and fruity aromas continue to be present. Subtle oak spice and white pepper towards the finish. The finish is a bit shorter with creamy sticky fruit jam, oak spice and a hint of dry tobacco leaves.
Comments: A rich, flavourful and powerful single malt from Finland. Seems to be well matured for an only 4 years old whisky with various layers of flavours. Sweet vanilla notes nicely mingle with the fruits of the madeira casks and a bold spiciness mixed with an alcoholic bite. A young but already good drinkable dram that can easily stand some water.

 

I thank Henrik Malmberg for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli 8yo, Single Malt
ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks.

 

Colour: Gold.
Nose: A floral start on the nose with vanilla and toffee notes behind. Slightly creamy and somehow buttery. Some citric fruits emerge, followed by ginger and a whiff of coconut in the back.
Palate: Sweet on the palate with vanilla and toffee, accompanied by acacia honey. This is followed by a warming spiciness of oak, ginger, white pepper and subtle nutmeg. The spiciness fairly increases with a second sip.
Finish: The finish is pleasantly long, warm and creamy - even flowery. Toffee and some dry notes of oak towards the finish.
With water: A few drops of water bring more flowery notes to the fore - geranium in particular. Vanilla and citric fruits, however, are significantly tamed. Still sweet on the palate with vanilla, toffee and honey. Slightly warming with a creamy touch of nutty flavours towards the finish. But where's the nice spiciness? It's completely gone! The finish is noticeable shorter with creamy notes of toffee, vanilla and honey. No sign of flowers anywhere.
Comments: A flavourful but not overpowering single malt from Finland. Lovely vanilla and toffee notes from the bourbon casks, nicely balanced with a pleasant warming spiciness. To me, there's only little influence of the sherry casks. A young but already good drinkable dram. But please, don't add even one drop of water!  I am quite curious how single malts from Teerenpeli will taste with older age.

 

I thank Henrik Malmberg for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli Aura 5yo, Porter Wood Matured, Distiller's Choice
ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon Casks, seasoned with Porter Beer (426 btl.)

 

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with vanilla, sweet malted barley, notes of roasted/toasted bread, bread crust and chocolate. Hints of oak wood and subtle beer derived flavours in the back.
Palate: Creamy and sweet on the palate with barley sugar, vanilla and roasted bread. Then slightly bitter notes of dark chocolate, even espresso arrive, nicely mixed with a slightly warming spiciness of oak, ginger, subtle cinnamon and white pepper. Roasted elements show up again, intermingling with a touch of yeasty notes and nutty flavours towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long and slightly warm on coffee, pepper and tender dark chocolate.
With water: Significantly fresher on the nose when water is added. The roasted/toasted notes almost completely disappear while the whisky becomes flowery, buttery with vanilla and toffee. Still sweet on the palate with vanilla and malted barley. Slightly warming with oak spice and a hint of pepper. Again, the lovely roasted notes are completely masked by water. The finish is a bit shorter but significantly dry with oak, cocoa and a whiff of espresso.
Comments: This Porter wood experiment resulted in a nice and delicate single malt. A good balance of sweetness and spiciness with this lovely roasted/toasted elements and dark chocolate flavours from the porter beer. A young but rich whisky with the right influence of the porter cask - not too much and not too little. I'd like to see more of this kind of experiments in the future. Well done, folks!

 

I thank Henrik Malmberg for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli Suomi 100 Juhlaviski, Limited Edition

ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery

Cask type: Ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon Casks, PX Sherry Casks Finish (around 5,000 btl.)

 

Colour: Light amber.
Nose: Fresh on the nose with peat and a slightly maritime note. Citrus arrives, followed by a lingering sweetness of vanilla and barley. This is nicely mixed with fruity notes of yellow apples and red grapes. Tender bonfire smokiness in the back.
Palate: Sweet on the palate with malted barley, toffee and delicate fruit - apples and red berries. This is followed by a significantly bold and warming spiciness of pepper, oak, hints of cinnamon and tender tar notes. Lingering creamy vanilla and a touch of liquorice towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long, sweet and creamy with vanilla and malted barley. Becomes slightly dry on the tail with spiced oak and warming peat.
With water: Bold and intense on the nose when a few drops of water are added. The sweetness and fruitiness are tamed while oak, pepper and hints of peat are present. Quite sweet on the palate with lingering vanilla, caramel and malted barley, while the spiciness is almost tamed. The finish is medium long, warm, slightly sweet and fairly dry with oak, pepper and a whiff of peat smoke.
Comments: A nice and delicate single malt. Seems to be young but already well structured. Nice balance of sweetness and fruitiness with subtle peat influence. Surprisingly, this dram tolerates water becoming very sweet with hints of peat smoke. A seriously interesting whisky from the North.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky - The House of Whiskies  for the sample and Teerenpeli Distillery for the photograph!

Teerenpeli Rasi, Moscatel Finish, Distiller's Choice
ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Bourbon Casks, Moscatel Wine Cask Finish (2554 btl.)

 

Colour: Gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with some reluctant but fine wine aromas, fruit, red berries, apples and strawberry. Lingering notes of vanilla emerge, nicely mixed with butterscotch, pears and a hint of white balsamic vinegar in the back.
Palate: Sweet, soft and creamy on the palate with thick fruit - apples and red berries, and a touch of vanilla. This is followed by a slightly warming spiciness of cinnamon, pepper and a touch of oak. Tender nutty flavours linger with slightly bitter grape peel towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long and slightly warm. Becomes dry on the tail with cinnamon, spiced oak and bitter notes of grape peel, mixed with cocoa and wood.
With water: Water significantly tames the lovely fruitiness and vanilla sweetness on the nose. On the palate, the whisky becomes very spicy with a noticeable reduced fruitiness and only a whiff of sweetness. The finish is medium long, slightly warm and very dry with oak, bitter notes of cocoa and grape peel.
Comments: A nice and delicate single malt. However, the influence of the wine cask in terms of fruitiness and sweetness is only minor, at least for my palate. Lacks some complexity and cannot tolerate water as the malt becomes flat and very dry. To me, Karhi and Kaski were more quaffable and expressive bottlings in this range.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli Kaski, 100% Sherry Cask, Distiller's Choice
ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Sherry Casks

 

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Sweet and fruity on the nose. A huge bite of sherry at first, complemented by dried fruits, prunes, bitter oranges, cherries, and raisins. Hints of cedarwood and barley emerge, nicely lingering with fine oak, cinnamon and subtle dark chocolate in the back. Very pleasant!
Palate: Soft, sweet and nicely creamy on the palate with sherry, caramel and hazelnuts. This is complemented by a slightly warming spiciness of oak, cinnamon and a whiff of alcohol. Vanilla and plums arrive, lingering with dark chocolate and a hint of smoke towards the finish. Very tasty!
Finish: The finish is medium long, sweet and lovely creamy with dark caramel, spiced oak, and coffee notes followed by a hint of liquorice and smoke on the tail.
With water: The whisky shows a spicy and woody style when water is added. Cedarwood, oak and spices dominate here, while the sherry flavours and the fruitiness is tamed significantly. Still sweet and subtle fruity on the palate with an increased spiciness, oak, smoke and liquorice. Creamy with prickling oak. The finish is medium long, warm and spicy with dark caramel, acacia honey, coffee and subtle smoke.
Comments: A creamy, sherried and very tasty whisky with great potential. Lacks some balance due to its youth (about 6 years of age) but already delivers lovely flavours of sherry, dark chocolate, light smoke and wood spice. A good deal - very sweet and lovely quaffable. Nonetheless, a few more years in the cask would be desirable.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Teerenpeli Karhi, Madeira Finish, Distiller's Choice
ABV: 43%
Region: Single Malt from Finland
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Bourbon Casks, Madeira Wine Cask Finish (1,882 btl.)

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Fresh, light and fruity start on the nose with wine aroma, apricots and peaches. This is lovely mixed with sweet vanilla, toffee and butterscotch. Hints of cacao, cinnamon and subtle oak in the back.
Palate: Very smooth on the palate. Soft and even silky notes of vanilla, apricots, figs and dark grapes. Lovely sweet toffee and custard complemented by a slightly warming spiciness of oak, cinnamon, roasted nuts and a whiff of white pepper.
Finish: The finish is short to medium long with delicious creamy toffee and fruity flavours, before bitter notes of dark chocolate and grape peel take over.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose when adding a few drops of water. The malt stays sweet with vanilla, toffee and wine grapes. On the palate, however, water increases the spiciness with more oak and black pepper coming to the fore. Less sweet but dry on the tongue. The finish is rather short, warm with drying oak and bitter grape peels.
Comments: A light, tasty and lovely sweet single malt from Finland with a pleasant noticeable influence of the madeira wine casks. Not the most complex on the planet and without a significant depth but enjoyable, even quaffable and, to me, a delicate all day dram. Well done!

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!