Time to kick off a series of tasting notes for the latest batch of single casks from Benriach, Batch # 14. This yea
r there were 7 single casks in total, the oldest being 12-year-old and the youngest 9 years of age – What is noticeable is that no cask has been laid before 2005!! no cask from the 1990s… I guess stocks are indeed low.
- 2005 Cask # 2565 / 12 years old / First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt / 58.8% vol.
- 2007 Cask # 101 / 10 years old / First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt / Peated / 61.9% vol.
- 2007 Cask # 105 / 10 years old / First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt / Peated / 62.2% vol.
- 2008 Cask # 2047 / 9 years old / Port Pipe / Peated / 63.2% vol.
- 2006 Cask # 7360 / 10 years old / First Fill Virgin Oak Cask / 58.9% vol.
- 2005 Cask # 2679 / 12 years old / First Fill Port Pipe / Peated / 53.1% vol.
- 2008 Cask # 7880 /9 years old / First Fill Marsala Hogshead / Peated / 59.6% vol.
I chose to begin with one of the oldest casks, a first fill port pipe (liked the color, that’s the truth) filled with peated liquid from Benriach , bottled at 53.1%, and more will come in the coming weeks.
BenRiach 12 Year Old 2005 (cask 2679), 53.1%
Nose: Quite sweet and fruity on entry, with a nice smoky/peaty earthy hint that adds complexity. Mostly red fruit, and ripe red berries (strawberry?), vanilla and barley, and a hint of mint.
Palate: Big entry, a bit perfumed at first but then the peat kicks in : more peat (as compared to the nose), more vinous, and also ashy, but also fruity with apples, red berries, and wood spice, it’s really viscous and almost chew-able.
Finish: Long, with earthy peat, smoke, and a dusty note.
Bottom line:
A very nice example of first fill port, with quite a lot of fruit on the nose and palate, which integrates nicely with the peated distillate. There was a perfumed note on the palate, that was not quite my cup of tea, but other than that – solid stuff. Recommended if you like the peated profile with the fruit.