57,1° (100° Proof)
Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside
1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and Bourbon Barrels
Independent Bottling
By Signatory Vintage
Single Malt
Bottled in 2025
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Totally Unpeated
This is the third time that this famous Speyside distillery has been featured in the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage in January 2024, and it’s the first time I’ve tasted a sample from it. It’s actually a distillery I’m quite fond of, but I’ve never had the chance to try it before. Here, we have a blend of first-fill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, so I’m hoping there’ll be a lovely balance.
Let's Taste It :
Pleasant woodiness, prunes, shiitake mushrooms, cigar box. Cream of chestnut soup, walnut cake, dates and figs. Cooked vegetables, a hint of red berries, molasses and soft caramel, varnish. A slight meaty smokiness. It's very spicy on the palate, cumin, horseradish, fresh fruit, olive oil, chocolate and coffee, lychees, a drizzle of vanilla. A very violent finish, quite long, charred and oaky, green apples, cut hay, succulent leaves, solvent, macerated bark, vines, brown sugar. Very slight bitterness.
In Short,
The nose and finish are good, but once again, the influence of the cask is too strong and detracts from the quality of the palate, which is too spicy. Once again, this is no doubt a flaw that will mellow with time, but I still find it a shame. I’m still giving it a fairly good mark, however, as it has other qualities and a lovely power that make up for some of the flaws, but on the palate, it isn’t quite good enough to make it worth buying, in my view.
Score : 86
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Nueve Tuercas - Caleidoscopio
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