The Schtick: Distilled by Benriach in 1989 and aged for 35 years in a first-fill PX Sherry Butt, this release is old, bold and cost me a pretty penny, but not the prettiest of pennies (about $600). I love old Benriach though, so I had to. Or so I tell myself. Bottled at cask strength of 56.4 without coloring or filtering.
Disclosure: None. Purchased at retail.
Review #2608 | Whiskey Review #962
Distiller: Benriach
Bottler: SMWS
Brand: SMWS
Selection: None – General Release
ABV: 59.2% ABV
Age: 35 Years
Nose: Meaty sherry, stewed fruits, grapes, cherries, toffee, tobacco, black tea, bbq’d meats, sweet brown sugar and loads of brulee, nougat, vanilla bean and a final pop of meaty red grapes.
Taste: Rich palate, packed with minerality, oak, sweet black cherries, white grapes, mango, vanilla bean, black pepper, strong oak developing, pipe tobacco and meaty sherry funk. Good lord it’s decadent, opulent, avant-garde and delightful.
Finish: Long finish. Red grapes, figs, tobacco, blackberry and custard meets meaty sherry, funk, a hint of pepper and rich pipe tobacco.
Overall: Incredible, decadent and complex. Meaty, well developed sherry for the ages and easily the best Benriach I’ve had. Wildly good stuff.
Thanks for reading!
Rank: 9
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