BenRiach The Twenty One

BenRiach The Twenty One, 21 YO, 46%

This core range product from BenRiach Distillery is best described by themselves; text from the official product page:

“This exquisite single malt has been crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and four cask matured for at least twenty one years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, virgin oak casks and Bordeaux red wine casks.”

The BenRiach The Twenty One is available in the UK at around GBP 170.

Nose: Softly perfumed and spicy oakiness is what first springs to mind. Fresh with notes of assorted fruits and berries over darker notes of pepper, soot, black soil and dried fruits. With time a faint whiff of orange zest, earthy vanilla and unsalted peanuts. Autumn in the air!

Taste: Medium plus body. Cool and dry in character. Black and white pepper. Soot again, with caramel. Then rich and juicy fruitiness livening things up a bit.

Finish: Long finish. Remains somewhat cool and restrained all the way. Pepper and soot slowly retreats giving more room to the lighter fruitiness and sweetness. Cool menthol and green herbs in the end.

Comment: Mr Cool!

Score 88/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas