Tasting 4 Benriachs

Because I'm awaiting one more Miltonduff soon I'll have some Benriach instead. Benriach have had quite a renaissance the last years with peated versions and a bunch of single cask bottlings released. A new OB range has also contributed to a better reputation for Benriach Distillery. Two bottled in the mid-90's and two bottled more recently.
















Benriach 20yo 1991-2011 51.6% Malts of Scotland cask#32283

From a bourbon barrel, a 20yo, as you can see, this has a pretty low strength at CS even at this age. That's much due to the less tight oak structure in american oak than european. The color is light caramel, it smells peppery, gingerbread, peat, grassy, licorice, bitter, very nice, a malt that speaks loud. The taste is bitter and zesty, lime and tonic water. Unusual profile, very enjoyable, but rather short finish. With a small addition of water it becomes sweeter, oranges, grapefruit, honey, vanilla, herbs, onions, nectarine, peaches, chillies. A long oaky and peppery finish.

Great stuff, a potent whisky, but do add water: 8.5


Benriach 17yo 1993-2010 56.7% OB cask#7420

A single cask that's been finished in another cask. Finished in a Gaja Barolo hogshead. I'm not all about these wine finishings, but some have been great, some early batches of the Glenmorangie Nectar D'or were superb. The color is reddish brown. It smells peaty, dry red wine, tannins, cinnamon, lime peel, feta cheese, chillies, another powerful whisky. The taste is zesty, rich, sulphury, grassy, licorice, salmi, peppermint. With some water it becomes sweeter, onions, straw, green chillies, peppery, butter, grape seeds, drying, bitter, cigar, a decent sense of ashtray in this one.

I'm still not too sure about these red wine finishes: 6


Benriach 17yo 1978-1995 59.7% Cadenhead's

Another 17yo, but this time no finishings. Na a nice opportunity to try old school Benriach vs. a new "tampered" some might say, version. Golden honey color, some cask sediments as well. It smells peaty, strong, cinnamon, red bell peppers, peach tea, minty, vanilla, cloves, herbal. Very nice. The taste is all on paprika, vanilla and gun powder. Once again I'll add some water. Now it gets sweeter, more creamy, more cinnamon and even more vanilla. Great finish which lasts for abut 30 minutes, all on peppery, oaky, peaty and spicy notes.

Great stuff, though not refined in any way, savage whisky: 7


Benriach 11yo 1983-1993 60.6% Gordon & Macphail Cask cask#5211,5212,5213

The youngster of the bunch at only 11yo. Golden color. I think single casks are often higher appreciated than these multiple cask CS bottlings from G&M. It smells kinda raw, orange zest, raw onions, grassy, melon, honey, pistachio, sawdust, a fierce whisky. The taste is creamy and thick, meringue, toffee, spiced cake, cinnamon, cupcakes, caramel, syrup, so sweet that its a bit of hard to find the beautiful peppery notes beyond that. Given time, beautiful notes of black pepper, pecan nuts, pistachio and orange zest comes forward.

Never underestimate an old G&M bottling: 8.5



Next tasting: Miltonduff Distillery