January 13th, 2011

Review: BenRiach Pedro Ximinez Finish 1995 Vintage

John Hansell

BenRiach Pedro Ximinez Finish, (Cask #7165), 1995 Vintage, 52.3%, $95

This is the heavily peated expression of BenRiach. (BenRiach does not differentiate their peated expressions with a different name, as Springbank does with Longrow, or Tobermory with Ledaig.) It’s also finished with the dark, lush “PX” sherry. Both influences are very evident, with the deep, heavy, earthy, smoky notes complemented by dark, fleshy, dried fruit. I think the two different influences marry very nicely here and I really enjoy drinking it. (Bottling at cask strength is a bonus!)

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92

Category: New Releases,Reviews,Scotch whisky Tags: 19 Comments

July 20th, 2009

BenRiach releases Limited Edition Batch #6

John Hansell

This is just in this morning. 70cl bottles only, so none are coming to the U.S. (sigh…)

BenRiach Issues Limited Release Batch Six

The BenRiach Distillery Company has selected nine vintages for its sixth limited release batch.

They range fr19701035frontsetom a 38-year-old from 1970 to a 14-year-old from 1994 and will be bottled towards the end of July.

Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “This is the sixth batch of BenRiach limited release single cask bottlings. Batch 1 was released in 2004 shortly after we took over the distillery and we have released a batch every year since. As a result, over the last five years these have built up quite a following.”

Batch Six includes classic Speyside styles and heavily peated BenRiachs, various wood finishes (Pedro Ximinez, Tawny Port, Gaja Barolo), and a very unusual 1977 (cask 3798) that has been matured exclusively in Virgin American Oak for thirty-one years.

Alistair added: “In terms of age and style, the range reflects the breadth and depth of whiskies maturing in our five dunnage warehouse in the Heart of Speyside. Each will be bottled at cask strength, with natural colour and non chill filtered. Bottles will be individually numbered by hand, and will be housed in a gift tube.”

Batch Six is being marketed in fifteen countries worldwide, with shipments scheduled to the UK, Europe, South Africa, Asia and New Zealand.

The full cask list is as follows:

1970 cask # 1035 / 38YO / PX Sherry Finish                               
1975 cask # 4450 / 33YO / Peated/Tawny Port Finish                                   
1977 cask # 3798 / 31YO / Full maturation in Virgin Oak                                           
1978   cask # 4414 / 31YO / Gaja Barolo Finish                                    
1978 cask # 7772 # 30YO / Classic Speyside                                                   
1984 cask # 1048 / 24YO / Peated / Pedro Ximinez Sherry Finish                                       
1988   cask # 4424 / 20YO / Gaja Barolo Finish                        
1990   cask # 970 / 19YO / Classic Speyside                                                     
1994   cask # 105100 / 14YO / Classic Speyside 

Category: New Releases,Scotch whisky Tags: 3 Comments

March 23rd, 2009

Review: Two from BenRiach

John Hansell

BenRiach, Maderensis Fumosis (Madeira Wood Finish), 13 year old, 46%, $88
(Sounds more like a disease than a whisky.) A peated version of BenRiach, with the tarry smoke melding nicely with toffee, bramble and rhubarb. Lingering earthy smoke on the finish and slightly tannic, with subtle fruit. Good mouth-feel on this one.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 85

BenRiach, Sauternes Wood Finish, 16 year old, 46%, $113
Lovely golden honey color. Lush and sweet (the Sauternes impact is obvious), with honey-drenched apricot, sultana and lemon gum drops. Vanilla, candied nuts and subtle botanics round out the palate. Decent oak grip on the finish keeps the whisky from being too cloying.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 83

Category: Reviews,Scotch whisky Tags: 4 Comments



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