Tonight we'll retaste set of 4 single cask Benriachs bottled for Ukrainian Whisky Connoisseurs Club.
Benriach 16 yo Virgin Oak 1996/2012 cask #3269 bottled for UWCC 49.3% - as you get from the name it has been matured in a virgin oak hogshead. Nose: lots and lots of fruits, vanilla and sweet oak. Taste: more oak here which is logical, less fruits. Finish: sweet, spicy and fruity. Very pleasant malt indeed. Score = 22 21 21 22, 86/100!
Benriach 18 yo Rum Barrel 1994/2012 cask 1644 bottled for UWCC 57.6% - the strength is promising :) Nose: sweet peat, melon and pineapple. Taste: sharp and fruity. Finish: long, fruity and slightly peaty. I like Virgin oak version a bit more. Score: 22 21 21 21, 85/100!
Benriach 32 yo Refill Bourbon Barrel 1979/2012 cask #7512 bottled for UWCC 44.5% - maybe 1979 is not so legendary year as 1976 is, though it's still very good. Nose: ha, white chocolate, pineapple, lychee, ripe pear in sweet cream after 5 minutes, yeah, now I understand why old Benriachs are so sought after. Taste: creamy and mellow with lots of pears and tropical fruits. Finish is a bit weaker, though general impression is "wow, give me another dram!". Score = 23 23 22 23, 91/100!
Benriach 18 yo Oloroso butt 1994/2012 cask #7353 bottled for UWCC 52.1% - and finally the smokiest of the them. Nose: lots of peat (even more than in rum barrel version) and then comes sherry layer underlined by white pepper and a pinch of ashes. Caol Ila from Speyside :) Taste: peaty and ashy. Finish: long and peppery with touches of oak and ashes. Score = 22 22 22 22, 88/100!
Conclusions: actually all of them are good. Different cask types created different characters for every taste and occasion. Would like to underline 32 yo from 1979, it is just great.
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