Thompson Bros Mystery Malts Batch 3 - Teaninich & Annandale

Thompson Bros Mystery Malts Batch 3 (Teaninich 13yo)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 48.5%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2012 and matured for the full 13 years in a single bourbon barrel, this Teaninich was bottled in 2025 as part of Thompson Bros’ Mystery Malt Series No. 3. Just 242 bottles were produced. 

Nose

The nose opens with lots of honeyed notes, alongside buttery popcorn, vanilla paste, and breakfast cereals with a heaping spoon of caster sugar. It's a pleasant nose, fairly straight forward bourbon notes, but we're also finding a little salty, like saline solution in the background. Time and air brings some peach and fresh apple aromas, as well as floral fabric softener. It noses relatively well at this ABV. 

Palate

The palate opens with a burst of fruit - it's like a mouthful of Starburst sweets, apple, pear, melon, lemon and lime all come forward. It follows this path with a fair bit of artificial sweetener, and something a little effervescent too. The mouthfeel is a tad thin, and as air opens this up we're really starting to get melon and more pear flavours, it's got a white-wine like character now - fresh Sauvignon Blanc, a little grassy too. The alcohol isn't too noticeable, and it's very drinkable.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose appears with more upfront fruit and less honey, buttery notes, however those are still sitting in the background. We're getting a lot of the pear and melon notes from the palate appearing on the nose now - still lots of caster sugar and vanillas coming through. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has a little more upfront creaminess, whipped Chantilly cream, buttercream frosting, lots more vanilla, however we're still finding lots of apple, pear and melon in the background. It's still quite artificial in sweetness, but that's not a bad thing.

Conclusion

A perfectly pleasant, drinkable bourbon cask - lots of sweet fruitiness and creamy vanillas. It's a tad one dimensional, it's inoffensive and eminently drinkable.

Score: 7/10

Thompson Bros Mystery Malts Batch 3 (Annandale 7yo)

Region: Lowlands

ABV: 48.5%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2018 and described as “double oaked”, which likely means it was rer-acked into a fresh bourbon barrel at some point, this Annandale was bottled in 2025 as part of the Thompson Brothers’ Mystery Malt Series No. 3. A total of 294 bottles were produced.

Nose

The nose opens with brown sugar, honey nut cheerios, a sprinkling of dried chili flakes, walnuts and brown toast. It's surprisingly warm and spicy for the ABV, it noses in the mid-50's in our opinion. Time and air brings out cocoa nibs, artificial vanilla essence and raw ginger juice. It feels a tad rough around the edges, malty and spicy. 

Palate

The palate opens with a warm vanilla and cinnamon spice, it's got some anise in the background, following into milk cooking chocolate and mild toffee notes. The mouthfeel has a caramel like texture, it's actually quite good, and more nutty flavours start to come through, almonds and cashews mostly. The finish lasts for a decent while, but it's mostly drier oak and chilli heat.  

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose hasn't changed too much, still lots of nutty, cereal and toasty notes, perhaps slightly less warm now - less spice. We're starting to get a bit of apple now, caramel dipped apple slices more specifically. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate really mellows out the spice, and becomes a lot richer - caramels, toffees, lots of brown sugar, some overcooked sponge cake and candied nuts. It's much more pleasant with water, but still a tad simple.

Conclusion

Warm and spicy upfront, but water tames this considerably bringing it to a pleasant, caramel-led whisky. Simple and unassuming, a tasty dram. 

Score: 6.5/10

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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