After trying the Excellent Ardbeg 21, and lovely 15 year old Macallan Darkness! comes this Benrinnes. Actually there are two different 15 yo Benrinnes in the Darkness! range, one aged in PX cask and one in Oloroso cask. I decided I was in a dark, deep, hedonistic PX mode, so started with this one expecting a real Sherry monster, and boy , was I not disappointed.
as described on the master of malt site:
This intense Benrinnes was finished in fresh, first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks that were specially rebuilt to be just one tenth of the size of a standard butt for 3 months. The greatly increased surface area to volume ratio of these casks helped develop even greater richness and concentration in this magnificent Speyside nectar.
Word.
Darkness! Benrinnes 15 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish , 53.3% , £59
Nose: big sherry indeed. Spent matches sort of flinty sulfury notes up front. A bug dollop of caramel and some flan too. Thick juicy cherries and plum and date paste. Heavy. Big. Px colossus. If you’re not find of sulfur beware!!
Palate: wham. Sherry monster indeed. Spicy, flinty, and lots of wood influence over here. You can almost lick the cask. Thick dried fruit compote with raisin,plum and fig. Very concentrated.
Finish: dark fruit. Sulphur-y note. Oak.
If you’re a sherry monster fan, and love those thick sweet PX notes, and a bit of sulphur does not intimidate you , this is your dram. If you’re troubled by Sulphur notes, or not into sweet whiskies, Better leave this one on the shelf.