Distillery Name: BenRiach Distillery
Distillery Location: Elgin, Morayshire
Link to Distillery Website: https://www.benriachdistillery.com/en-us/
Tours: https://www.benriachdistillery.com/en-us/distillery-tours/
Tour/Tasting/Experience: Barrels, Butts and Barriques. An exploration of cask maturation
The BenRiach distillery was founded by John Duff in 1898. Two years later, the distillery closed as the whisky market slumped, triggered by fraudulent inventory and property practices from brothers Walter and Robert Pattison, an event known in Scotch history as the “Pattison Crash” of 1898. BenRiach will not resume production until 1965.
In 1985, Seagram’s acquired BenRiach distillery, which became part of the portfolio of Pernod Ricard when the global beverage company purchased Seagram’s in 2001. The distillery was closed again until 2004 when whisky legend Billy Walker purchased the distillery through his company, the BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd.
The BenRiach Distillery Ltd. would later acquire two more distilleries, Glendronach in 2008, and Glenglassaugh in 2013. In 2016, Brown Forman purchased all three distilleries for £281 million.
The BenRiach whisky had only been unpeated until the early 1970s when the distillery started experimenting with expressions that contained Highland peat. In 1994, BenRiach launched as a single malt for the first time. Today, the distillery uses its malting floors for a limited number of whiskies and sources the barley for the rest of its production.
Benriach offers four other experiences:
- Sense of Flavour: A guided tasting of two single malts from the core range (The Smoky 10 and The Smoky 12) and a classic cocktail that contains BenRiach single malt.
- The Original Tour: A distillery tour that includes a tasting of three whiskies and the opportunity to create your own.
- Barley to Barrels: A distillery tour, including a warehouse visit and guided tasting of five whiskies.
- Grape and Grain: A distillery tour focused on exploring flavors created from the different wine casks and a tasting of five limited single cask releases with a food pairing.
The Barrels, Butts, and Barriques Experience Whiskies
The Barrel, Butts, and Barriques experience at BenRiach is a guided tasting that explores five single cask whiskies. The experience helps the visitor understand how different types of oak influence the distillery’s new make spirit characterized as light and fruity, typical of fresh apples. The tasting ends with a 21-Year-Old single malt that combines a selection of 4 cask types (bourbon, sherry, red wine, and virgin oak).
BenRiach 25 Years Old 1993 Single Cask #7881 ($$$$)
This single malt is a first-fill Rioja cask, bottled at 54.3% ABV for 25 years.
- Nose: Intense aromas of chocolate and raisins.
- Palate: A full-bodied and rich malt with chocolate, smoke, and fruits. The malt feels a bit strong. The 54.3% ABV could be the reason.
- Finish: Long and complex.
- Score: 3.75/5 ⭐
BenRiach 23 Years Old 1993 Single Cask ($$$$)
This single malt is matured in Madeira cask, bottled at 52.5% ABV for 23 years. This expression is a distillery exclusive.
- Nose: Aromas of vanilla and caramel.
- Palate: Flavors of caramel, orange, and hazelnuts. The palate is softer than the previous malt.
- Finish: Long and rich. Very nice!
- Score: 4/5⭐
BenRiach 27 Years Old 1991 Single Barrel #1865 ($$$$)
A whisky matured in a rum barrel for 27 years and bottled at 50.3% ABV.
- Nose: Sweet and syrupy nose.
- Palate: An oily and rich sweetness arrival. Mango and pineapple.
- Finish: Very long, creamy, and fruity finish.
- Score: 4/5 ⭐
BenRiach 1997 Single Cask #7859 ($$$$)
This single malt has matured in a Virgin oak hogshead casks for at least 20 years and bottled at 53.1% ABV.
- Nose: Honey and caramel aromas.
- Palate: Delicious flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and oak spices. A very easy-to-drink and nice single malt.
- Finish: Rich and long with a delicate sweetness.
- Score: 4.25/5⭐
BenRiach 22 Years Old 1994 Single Barrel #2859 ($$$$)
This single malt has matured in bourbon barrels for at least 22 years. Bottled at 52.7% ABV.
- Nose: Apples, smoke, and peat aromas.
- Palate: Notes of apples. Delicious. I love how the fruity character of BenRiach integrates so well with the peat and the smoke, which is not overpowering. This malt does a great job balancing fruit vs. smoke and peat.
- Finish: Brown sugar and smoke.
- Score: 4.3/5⭐
BenRiach The Twenty One
This single malt has matured in four casks (bourbon, Virgin oak, sherry, and Bordeaux wine) for at least 21 years and bottled at 46% ABV.
- Nose: Peat, smoke, and fruits.
- Palate: Peat and smoke are the dominant flavors here. Flavors of fruit, cereal, and oak spices remain in the background.
- Finish: Honey and smoke.
- Score: 3.75/5⭐
What I liked about the experience 🙂
- The BenRiach experience was memorable. The whiskies were all complex and well crafted, and because I was the only one at that experience, I was able to ask many questions to the tasting guide.
- Through this experience, I discovered a taste for fruit flavors when integrated with moderate peat and smoke. Keeping these flavors in equilibrium makes a difference to me.
What I did not like about the experience 🙁
Nothing.
I highly recommend this experience for those looking to get out of BenRiach’s core range and try the different permutations of the distillery’s light and fruity character with flavors coming from different casks.
Score: 4.25/5⭐
Check more distillery reviews here.
Legend
$50 or less $
$51-$100 $$
$101-$150 $$$
$151 or more $$$$
