Whisky Review/Tasting: Teerenpeli Karhi

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Finland, specifically from the town of Lahti.
Type: Malt whisky with a Madeira finish.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Initially matured in bourbon casks, followed by a one-year finish in Madeira casks. The exact details regarding the use of first or second fill bourbon casks are not specified.
Age Statement: The distillery is relatively young, and while the whisky is suggested to be aged between five to seven years, there is an implication that it might be at least three years old due to regulatory requirements.
Color and Clarity: The whisky is described as having a wonderful color, uncolored, indicating its natural appearance directly from the cask. The whisky is bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered, which may allow for some cloudiness, though none is observed.
Bottle Design: The bottle is a half-liter size, priced at 75 euros in Central Europe. It features a light cork stopper made from glued pieces, minimizing cork aroma. The bottle discussed is numbered 1,672 out of 1,882.

Balance of Flavors: The whisky exhibits a balance between maltiness, vanilla sweetness, and dark fruity aromas from the Madeira cask finish.
Unique Characteristics: The Madeira finish contributes to a dark, fruity aroma, with a slight oakiness possibly from European oak casks. The whisky is compared favorably to Scotch, indicating its quality and traditional malt whisky characteristics.
Comparison: The reviewer compares this whisky to another from the same distillery, the Karski, which was cherry matured and also highly praised for its quality.

Anecdotes: The reviewer shares a personal connection to Finland through friends who own a summer house there, providing a casual introduction to Finnish pronunciation and culture.
Trivia: The discussion includes a brief mention of Finnish alcohol taxation and consumer behavior, highlighting the cultural context surrounding alcohol consumption in Finland.

Historical Context: The whisky's Madeira finish is explained through the process of making Madeira wine, including its unique heating process that contributes to the wine's dark color and intense flavor, which in turn influences the whisky's profile.
Geographical Context: The distillery's location in Lahti, Finland, and the reference to Madeira wine's Portuguese origins, provide a geographical backdrop to the whisky's story.

"Definitely a malt whisky, vanilla shining through, a sweetness in it. And with closed eyes, this is a Scotch."
"These are excellent whiskies, they know what they are doing there."

Teerenpeli Karhi is a Finnish malt whisky with a Madeira finish, suggested to be aged between five to seven years.
It exhibits a natural color, bottled at 43% ABV, non-chill filtered, with a balance of maltiness, vanilla, and dark fruity aromas.
The whisky is compared favorably to Scotch, indicating its high quality and traditional characteristics.
Cultural anecdotes and the process of making Madeira wine provide interesting background information.
The whisky is praised for its quality, though it is noted that it may be expensive and not widely available outside Central Europe.

Scotch Enthusiasts: Given its comparison to Scotch, those who appreciate traditional malt whiskies would likely enjoy Teerenpeli Karhi.
Adventurous Drinkers: Individuals interested in exploring whiskies with unique finishes and those from non-traditional whisky-producing countries.
Collectors: The limited bottle count and unique origin might appeal to collectors looking for distinctive additions to their collection.