I am back!
Been a quiet week blogging wise, with not much activity, but believe me it was not a quiet time in regard to whisky. I had a few amazing days on the Isle of Jura, and in London, visiting the Whisky Live show, meeting so many wonderful people who are passionate about whisky (and having drunk a lot of excellent drams over there, be sure of that! ).I am Planning on devoting two long posts both to the Jura distillery and island, and whisky live, but first a tasting note I’ve been meaning to publish for quite some time: A peated 17 year old whisky from the Benriach, finished in Tawny port casks. That sounds yummy, and it really is. The Benriach are really my kind of distillery with their nice %ABV of standard whiskies, and this one is no exception, with a lovely 50% ABV, that makes the whisky shine. I like that! wish more and more distilleries will follow this trend, and I know I am not only speaking for myself.
I first got to try this one a month or so ago, when meeting a few whisky friends in a “bring your own” whisky evening. Each had to bring his own, and as it happens all were peated whiskies. I was really thrilled to try it, and as it happens it really was the star of the evening.
Benriach 17 Year Old Solstice , 50 % ABV , £58 
Color : I usually do not attribute much to a color of a whisky, but this one is so beautiful i t deserves an honorary mention wonderful Copper, The port casks did their magic here!
Nose : Peat reek with cough syrup. Very pronounced wine notes. Fortified wine , new make cured bacon some vinegary notes too.
Palate: The first thing that comes to mind is cinnamon bubble gum, you know the spicy one we used to chew as kids. Then enters peat, smoke and envelope glue (Remember we once used to lick envelopes, before the stickers). If you appreciate Dr. pepper you will find some notes of that too here.
Finish : Long. Sweet peaty BBQ. Cinnamon gum sweet N’ Spicy.
Bottom line:
All in all this is a cracking dram. A very nice variation on the 17 peated expression, with the port really playing first fiddle here, allowing the peat and cinammony notes to shine. Complex, Vibrant, and really special. I like this one very much! and with the 50%, it’s just perfect.