Catch (BenRiach) 22
While we endlessly pace the halls awaiting the next batch of Benriach Single Casks to drop, we thought we would explore some older Benriach juice that somehow eluded our notice (and glasses!)
Today’s excursion sees us tasting three different but somewhat related releases from the Brown Forman owned Scottish Whisky House of Benriach. All three expressions on today’s menu are 22 years old, bottled at 46% and non-chill filtered. 2 are Dark Rum finishes, 1 is PX Finished, and 2 are peated. Let’s dive in! (Needless to say Peated whisky is not super common from Speyside distilleries so were excited and thankful to have been able to try these.)
BenRiach 22 Year Old — Dark Rum Finish
Scotch Single Malt Whisky
700ml, 46% ABV
Owner: Brown Forman
Aged for 20 years in America Oak ex-Bourbon barrels before spending two years in Jamaican ex-Dark Rum casks this excellent little morsel of a whisky has some surprising depth and some uncharacteristic (but delicious) nosing and tasting notes for a Benriach.
Nose: Freshly juiced Pink Lady apples, maple syrup, fresh, ripe pineapple, Butter Menthols and Anzac Biscuits.
Palate: Crumbled honeycomb candy (Violet Crumble), Lindt Dark Chocolate truffles, slightly burnt caramel, a faint hint of oily macadamias, rose water and Allen’s Peaches and Cream lollies.
BenRiach 22 Year Old
Albariza Peated (2nd Edition)
Scotch Single Malt Whisky
700ml, 46% ABV
Owner: Brown Forman
Once again another long maturation in American oak ex-Bourbon, followed by a reasonably long finish period. This time in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks, and using a peated Benriach distillate. The Albariza in the name is for the white soil commonly seen in southern Spain where the Sherry grapes are grown.
Nose: JH’s BBQ pork ribs, old struck match, freshly cut Western Red Cedar, freshly crushed min leaves. Super Ledaig-y for the initiated.
Palate: Dried figs, dark cherry, vanilla cupcake icing, bush fire embers, white pepper. Finish not as long as the two dark rum expressions but cracking while it does last.
Benriach 22 Year Old Dunder — Dark Rum Finish — Peated
Scotch Single Malt Whisky
700ml, 46% ABV
Owner: Brown Forman
Back to Jamaican Dark Rum cask finishing again, but this time using peated spirit :) It’s a super poorly kept secret that we are a bit partial to good pirate juice (aka Rum) and a Rum finish, when executed well can be astounding (Iniquity Batch 3 *cough*). Superior Speyside spirit meets Dark Jamaican Dunder — a true super hero crossover if there ever was one.
Nose: Ginger lemon tea, Nashi pear, spearmint, marzipan, coconut butter (especially after a decent interval opening up in the glass)
Palate: Brazilian BBQ pineapple, dark brown sugar, sugared almonds, Chinese BBQ pork, lemon zest and a good clean wood smoke interwoven through the lot.
