56,2°
Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside
Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2020
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
After a profusion of Single Cask bottlings of all kinds these last few years, it seems that the distillery has calmed down a little, proposing 'only' 7 different Cask Edition for 2021. One of these has been aged for 13 years in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon cask, and 664 copies have been produced. Curiously, it is reserved for the French market. Good, there will be more for us.
Let's Taste It :
Very soft, very tender sherry, with that lovely sweetness typical of Pedro Ximénez. It works every time. Leather, caramel, quinces, dried grapes, chestnuts. Light peat in the background, rather rough, rustic. A little earthy, coaly. Asphalt, or rather cement, a bit of glue. Beetroot, eggplant. Very syrupy, liquorish palate, banana, then genoise, pastry cream, spices, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, saffron. Coal in the background. Still a slightly earthy and vegetable taste, with roots. Slightly vinous too. The finish is very long, racy and quite multi-faceted, with wood, but also caramel, cooked fruits, ploughed earth, brown coal. Smoked ham, a good slice of speck. With lingonberry jam. Fruit cake.
In Short,
An excellent product, my favourite I've tasted so far from BenRiach, but I have to admit that I have a weakness for PX ageing, when it's done well, and that's the case here. The sherry influence is important, but doesn't close the door on the distillery's hallmarks, which makes for a nice marriage. The peat is fairly light and doesn't spoil anything, on the contrary. It is still easy to find, at a rather excessive price, but it is a Single Cask after all.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Sigur Ros - Olsen Olsen
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