Archive for the ‘ BenRiach ’ Category

BenRiach cask 7164

A 16yo PX cask tonight from BenRiach, sister distillery of GlenDronach, up near Elgin.

A beautiful, deep golden red hue, this dram begs you to get stuck in.

Don’t mind if I do!

Sweet pastry

Blackcurrants

Brambles

Spiced stewed apples – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla

Balsamic vinegar? Ok, maybe getting a bit carried away but there’s certainly an intriguing balance of acidity and sticky intense sweetness going on here.

It’s mouth-filling, very full bodied and thoroughly braw.

4/5

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2012
02/17
CATEGORY
BenRiach
Speyside
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28/06/11 Birnie Moss

Hands up if you’ve heard of this before.

I hadn’t until last week and curiosity got the better of me.

This a single malt, obviously a very young one, from BenRiach. It’s “intensely peated” according to the label.

Well, i can’t argue with that. The nose is peaty and tarry yet surprisingly sweet, there’s some pineapple, vanilla and lemon sherbert in there.

It’s smoky obviously, but light and delicate with the fruit and oak, surprisingly so in fact. The finish is a little thin which is disappointing.

An interesting dram, i’d love to try it after even just another year or so in oak.

3/5

2011
06/28
CATEGORY
BenRiach
Speyside
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27/05/11 BenRiach 15yo PX

I paid a quick visit to the whisky shop in Ocean Terminal this morning and picked up this BenRiach. A ‘still that I don’t know that well but the recent Solstice expression was great so I have high hopes for this one.

Nose: rich sweet sherry, raisins, sherry, old oak, sherry, floor polish, rum’n'raisin ice cream and sherry.

Palate: as you’d expect really, serious sherry. Rich fruit (cherries and plums), a little warm spice but not the most sophisticated delivery…

Finish: long and sweet

Balance: technically it’s not great although water certainly helps. I still like it though.

2/5.

2011
05/27
CATEGORY
BenRiach
Speyside
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03/03/11 BenRiach Solstice

What an intriguing dram this is. Look at the colour of it! It’s thick, viscous and oily.

Very hefty peat on the nose, spicy chinese beef (canton steak maybe?) and deep, heavily spiced wine.

On the palate the theme continues, big whack of peat smoke, meaty, earthy and savoury followed by long reeking finish.

Fascinating stuff! Nothing like some of the sweet port-finished drams that are around.

50% ABV is nice too, a splash of water brings out some fruit, still not too sweet though.

This might be another dram I’ll be tasting tomorrow!

Great stuff, dark and stormy. 4/5.

2011
03/03
CATEGORY
BenRiach
Speyside
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