I love the combo of port and peat. When it’s done well it can create some astounding whisky. When it doesn’t fully come together it can leave a bit to be desired. As you’ll see in the scotch review below this BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish falls somewhere in the middle.
Starting life in an ex-Bourbon cask, this whisky was finished in ex-Port casks for an undisclosed amount of time. The color makes me think it either had an extensive finishing or came from a very active/wet cask. Either one is possible and there’s only one way to find out.
BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish Review: Details and Tasting Notes
Each year, BenRiach’s Master Blender selects a small number of casks that have developed to their peak of individual character. They include whiskies that have been aged in virgin American oak barrels and port pipes. The whiskies are individually hand-numbered, non-chill filtered and bottled with its natural color. Each is unique and and exclusive to the US market.
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: BenRiach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Port
Age: NAS
ABV: 53.6%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Cask: 2683
Cask: 53.6%
Price: $110*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Dark Ruby
NOSE
Port sweetness, cocoa, leather, dark fruit, peat, melted plastic, cinnamon heavy spice and a light balsamic quality.
PALATE
Port sweetness, cocoa, copper, peat, leather, dark fruit, chart, spice, stewed prunes and roasted malt with a bit of vanilla.
FINISH
Medium -> Peat, port, smoked meat and spice.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, round medium body and light oily feel.
BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish Review: Overall and Score
Good, but a little on the light side. Aroma is heavy and dark and brooding with darkly sweet, rustic and phenolic qualities to it; I love the aroma. Palate is shockingly light in comparison; it’s a similar dark profile with some added roasted notes, but oddly light. Finish is a pleasant semi-quick fade that turns meaty and spicy before it disappears.
In a way, the BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish feels a bit flat. Good, but a bit flat and not fully integrated; I’m wondering if it was a short finish in a wet barrel. Despite being a bit flat it’s oddly meaty. Somehow this BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish pulls off this hattrick and that’s what makes it something I want to drink fairly often.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish 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 Single Barrel Peated Port Finish Review 110
- Nose
- Palate
- Finish
- Balance, Body & Feel
BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish Review Summary
BenRiach Single Barrel Peated Port Finish is a bit flat, and a bit light on the palate, but is still something I’d be happy to drink anytime. Oddly good.
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