Teerenpeli 10 Year Old Review: A Taste of Finnish Whisky History

Finland might not be the first country that comes to mind for single malt whisky. Yet Teerenpeli Distillery made history with the release of the first 10-year-old Finnish single malt. How does this Scandinavian milestone taste, and is it something for you? You’ll find out in this whisky review.

At the 2015 London Whisky Fair, Teerenpeli had a world first to share. The Finnish distillery unveiled the very first Finnish 10-year-old single malt at the event.

Since then, the whisky has been a fixture in the distillery’s range and remains, to this day, the oldest single malt produced in the country.

The whisky matured in a combination of casks. Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels were used to create a balanced interplay of soft vanilla sweetness alongside a spicier profile with fruity notes.

Teerenpeli’s whisky almost always comes in the same bottle style, and this 10-year-old single malt is no exception. It’s a slightly smaller bottle than most distillers offer, at 50 centiliters.

The bottle features a graceful short neck and is sealed with a handsome wooden cork. The top is stamped with the distillery’s logo: a male black grouse. In fact, the name Teerenpeli partly derives from the bird, teeri is Finnish for black grouse.

The bottle is brimming with Finnish touches, but what about the whisky itself? Time to taste.

As soon as we pour this Finnish single malt, one aroma stands out: malt. The nose is distinctly malty, with notes of toffee and sweet vanilla. The bourbon casks have clearly left their mark.

The sherry influence is subtler at first but grows with time. The whisky remains gentle on the nose and, after resting in the glass, becomes fruitier with a light saline edge, an intriguing development that piques curiosity for the palate.

On the palate, Teerenpeli 10 Year Old Single Malt surprises with a clear note of chewed licorice and a hint of salmiak. It’s pleasant, with a subtle briny undertone. As you hold it longer, berry notes, sweet fruit, and more spice begin to unfold.

The sweet–saline balance works beautifully here, helped by the whisky’s gentle character. Even in the rather short finish—where it signs off with a final sweet wave, that balance holds strong.

Teerenpeli 10 Year Old Single Malt is a piece of Finnish whisky history in a bottle that deserves a chance from any whisky lover. It’s well balanced and offers enough depth for reflective sipping, even if it isn’t wildly complex.

At the same time, it’s approachable in flavor, neither a peat monster nor a sharp-edged dram. The finish is on the short side, so each sip wraps up quickly, but that doesn’t spoil the fun. If you ever come across this whisky, it’s well worth a taste.

+ A piece of history in a bottle (the first Finnish 10-year-old single malt)

+ Lovely balance of sweet, spicy, and saline

+ Approachable yet with an engaging flavor progression

- The finish could have been longer