Benriach 12 Year Old - Sherry Wood (Old Bottling)

As Benriach and Glendronach are siblings, I was hoping some of the 'sherryness' would rub off and I'd be getting hints of a Revival 15 or Allardice but at a lower price, but sadly not, it just doesn't have the deepness or seem like first fill casks, (and probably isn't). It was well drinkable and I did enjoy it in a limited sort of way, but maybe my expectations were a tad too high, still, 7/10 is fair

23rd June 2017

A delightful surprise. The oloroso and PX flavours marry perfectly. A touch of chocolate, figs, apple pie, sultanas. Long sweet warm and creamy. Everything in absolute harmony.

30th March 2017

Price value is very good

11th March 2017

Lovely dram. I find a tiny addition of water hits the spot and improves the finish. A lovely spicy, toffee and a touch of mocha on the palate. Lingering sweet finish.

6th March 2017

Good stuff, 46% abv. Still no match for 15yo Glenfarclas but impresive and a lot cheaper.

1st February 2017

The nose is pleasant and certainly has those fruits and spices to it. On first tasting I found it quite overpowering, however being aired in the glass and settling, the sherry notes really came through. An overall enjoyable dram but for the price and strength of this I personally would buy a 15yo of Glenfarclas.

17th October 2016

Excellent stuff. The first drink out of the bottle is a little sharp. A few weeks with the air at it and it will mellow out and you'll start to pick out more of the flavours. Plenty of sherry, vanilla sweetness with mild oak and chocolate, and a good taste of down to earth grain at the end. A good choice for someone getting into the higher % alcohol whisky.

26th September 2016

This is simply great value for the money. If you like sherry cask influenced whiskies, you can't go wrong with this one.

It's loads and loads of sherry on the nose. When the bottle is first opened you get the distinctive Speyside spices, but they got demolished completely once it picks up some air. This is sherry territory my friends. When you smell it some more you get the hints of vanilla from the oak and even some peat in the far far background - may be just because it's been stored along the peated whiskies made by BenRiach.

On the mouth, it's again full of sherry. But also malt, lots of malt. It hasn't given up on the vigorous spices of youth just yet, you can taste them on your tongue - but not in an unpleasant way. Note the sherry casks are large, the 12-years-old has had overall less contact with the oak, and you can definitely tell that this tastes more like an 8 years than 12 years old.

There are more spices and dried fruit on the finish. Not a huge oak, however, just some hints in the background.

Excellent stuff if you like me like sherry matured whiskies.

26th March 2016

I'm a sucker for sherry Wood finishes. Since I was seduced by Aromaticus Fumosus I figured; They can make Sherry finish like easy-peacey. So I grabbed a pre-teen bottle. Holy (insert expression as You like). This is hot, spicey stuff. No doubt 'bout the alcohol. It will remind You it's there. The sherry however, less significant. A bit sulphurous on the palate. Quite sour in the nostrils. Can't comment on the finish as my larynx was burned to dust along with my tongue. Later I had a 15'er. That's the one You want. If not - Go Glenmo La Santa. More gain, less pain.

18th July 2015