Delicious Benriach 16 Year Old, now at 43% abv with smart new packaging. Great stuff.
Fruity-fresh. Honeyed sweetness, touch of dryness.
Medium. Sweet barley and vanilla. Buttery, some apple peel. Perhaps a spot of peat.
Medium length, some caramel, dark sugar and a pinch of peat.
I'm normally a sherry highland fan but this BenRiach really knows how to stand out. Way more complex than most highland whiskies at the same age. On the nose tons of vanilla and blossem notes accompanied by complex multilayered oak notes. Creamy, spicy, full mouthfeel. Vanilla, toffee and apples on the palete, very complex.
This immediately reminded me of the Highland Park 18. More than the "pinch" of peat that MOM states in their tasting notes, but certainly not an Islay pretender. Meh, I like tons of peat or no peat, so this one didn't do it for me (neither did the HP 18), but if you like the HP then this one is worth a try. (I won't star-rate it because I don't care for the style.)
I'm no whisky expert, but have long enjoyed a good malt. This is up there with the best of them. Incredibly smooth and the flavour mix is diverse and fun.
Second best Whisky I have tasted, the 1st was the Dalmore 25
complex vanila..very good
