BenRiach 22 Moscatel Finish - 46%
Founded in 1898 by John Duff, BenRiach Distillery has a long heritage of making single malt Scotch whisky. Located in North Speyside on the site of the old Riach farm, BenRiach draws its water from a mineral-rich aquifer deep beneath the distillery.
A significant part of this rich heritage is the tradition of distilling three distinct styles of whisky; unpeated, peated and triple distilled. Under the guidance of Master Blender, Dr Rachel Barrie, the BenRiach whisky portfolio has been further strengthened by the utilisation of a wide variety of casks from around the world, giving them the ability to continually explore and develop new flavour profiles.
This 22 year old BenRiach was originally matured in ex-Bourbon casks before finishing in sweet Moscatel Sherry casks and bottling at 46% abv. Launched in 2016, this is a limited release of only 5,927 bottles.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Burnt amber, forms a thick line which gradually falls as thick, oily legs.
Nose: A cornucopia of dried fruits, together with candied lemon and orange zest, dark chocolate covered cherries and blackcurrant jam. Add in stewed apples and plums, whilst old leather saddles and a balsamic reduction bring a more savoury element.
Palate: Rich, oily and unctuous with the dried fruit from the nose very much to the fore but joined by Fruits of the Forest Jam, dark chocolate enrobed candied orange peel and cherries, together with baking spices providing gentle warmth. With time in the mouth, old leather and a touch of old oak make an appearance. With water, a little more fruitiness and Ginger Nut biscuits find their way into the limelight.
Finish: Turning slightly bitter but not unpleasantly so, with dark chocolate covered coffee beans, hazelnuts, cinnamon and old nutty oak.
Summary: I know colour should never be seen as a guide to quality, but this looks absolutely stunning in the glass. A beautifully balanced sherried whisky, with an exceptional nose and a palate that almost manages to match it.
Deep, rich and complex, it exudes an air of decadence. A whisky with a genuine wow factor. You would have to really nitpick to find fault with this one.
A huge thanks goes to Paul @pswhisky for the opportunity to try some incredible whiskies on this tasting session. If you’re not already following him on Twitter, I would highly recommend it together with checking out his website.
