I have long been a fan of BenRiach… all the Ben’s really: Ben Nevis, Benrinnes, Benromach… all the good stuff. There is a simplicity, and a complexity, to their whiskies I’m drawn to in a way that’s unique to these Ben gems. This BenRiach Cask Strength is no exception and, as you’ll see, should be highly placed on your consideration list.
In a way this whisky is a double-triple. It uses three different kinds of casks – ex-Bourbon, ex-Oloroso and Virgin Oak – which are pulled from three different years: ’06, ’07, ’08. This combination of casks and years was blended together by Rachel Barrie and has everything we love about a good Speyside in it. Enough with the blabbering, on to the Scotch review!
BenRiach Cask Strength Review: Details and Tasting Notes
Whisky explorers searching for a glimpse into the spirit of BenRiach distillery have the chance to experiment with this emerging Speyside single malt in its most non-diluted form, with the release of BenRiach Cask Strength – Batch 2. Following on from the successful release of Cask Strength – Batch 1, BenRiach distillery Master Blender Rachel Barrie has hand-picked a small selection from 2006, 2007 and 2008 to create this rich, smooth, triple-cask matured expression.
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: BenRiach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Oloroso, Virgin Oak Hogshead
Age: NAS (9-10 years: 2008 + 2007 + 2006 vintage blend released in 2018)
ABV: 60.6%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2
Price: $95*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Farmy malt, apples, spice, honey, pears, peaches, grass and some citrus peels.
PALATE
Dried fruit, banana, apples, oily cinnamon, nuts, golden raisins, char, leather, graham and some citrus and hay-like malt.
FINISH
Long -> Banana, hay-like malt and nuts.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, full body and oily feel.
BenRiach Cask Strength Review: Overall and Score
Darn good whisky. Aroma is balanced and rich with fruit and earthy farmy aromas; I’m finding a lot to enjoy in here. Palate is bolder and even more fruit forward with great notes of dried and fresh fruits and layers of spice and some earthy farmy notes to keep it balanced. Finish is a fantastic culmination of everything that came before it.
This is just a solid-leveled whisky w/ so much to offer. Layers of earthy malt, fruit, rustic leather and bright citrus popping in and out of the senses. It’s complex and the mix of ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and Virgin Oak casks combine in a lovely manner. BenRiach Cask Strength is a good solid Speyside.
SCORE: 89/100 (B+)
*Disclosure: This BenRiach Cask Strength sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
BenRiach Cask Strength Review 95
- Nose - 88
- Palate - 89
- Finish - 89
- Balance, Body & Feel - 90
BenRiach Cask Strength Review Summary
BenRiach Cask Strength is a rich robust whisky that brings fantastic layers of sweetness and earthiness together. Lovely stuff.
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