A new edition of BenRiach's 12 Year Old Sherry Wood expression, which is matured in sherry casks, and then finished in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. More sherried deliciousness than you can shake a stick at.
Cooked apple drizzled in crème de cassis, brown sugar and zesty orange.
Fig, blackcurrant jam, apricot, slowly building Christmas spice and continued vanilla.
Soft ginger root spiciness.
Benriach must be one of the most undersung distilleries anywhere. I've tried several of their expressions and have never been disappointed. The original 12yo sherried expression was a glorious thing. This new incarnation doesn't quite match that, but it's still very good indeed. The nose is delicious. The taste has complexity, though the lack of body lets it down a bit. Thanks to the abv the finish lingers well, but the burn outlasts the flavours.
For a 12 year old it has a lot of complexity. This is one of the few whiskies I would add a bit of water to, it's a bit harsh without. Although the complexity is there and you can definitely taste the PX as well as the delicious Oloroso casks, the whisky is a bit thin and definitely missing in oils. I don't think there is currently a better sherried 12 yo out there with GlenDronach 12's huge drop in quality in bottles after 2013, but if you're really interested in nice full bodied sherried malt look in a different price range (psst... GD 18 is still great value for money).
All I can say is wow this is a damn good dessert dram. So much raisin , caramel apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried apricot, with some vanilla bean and dark chocolate cake frosting. Superb sherried whisky, natural color and bottled at 46% one of the best I've had in a while actually.Just further proof that Benriach might be the best distillery in Speyside never had anything from this distillery I haven't been impressed by they do damn good work. Cheers! The Sugarbear
A very rich fruity sherry influenced dram.
