Benrinnes 2010 Berry Bros. & Rudd Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

Bourbon Cask and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

After spending at least 11 years in a Bourbon cask, this one was finished for three and a half years in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask, resulting in a run of 262 bottles. It was selected by La Maison du Whisky to feature in the Collection Itinéraires, for exclusive sale in France.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, malty cereals, raisins and quince jam. Warm wax, tobacco leaves, candied ginger, angelica, green olives. Milk chocolate, a few rich and sweet floral notes, mingled with cinnamon. Melting caramel and fresh figs. On the palate, it is creamy and fruity, with a hint of oil. Banana, Comice pears, stringy vanilla, generous lemon. White grapes, almonds and pistachios, nutmeg, hazelnut, clove. A mellow finish, prunes, fairly long, pine resin, liquorice stick, dried fruit, oak bark, cola. 

 

In Short, 

The sherry influence isn’t too overpowering, resulting in a pleasant, complex, smooth and fruity whisky that goes down quite easily. For a 15-year-old single cask, the price is very reasonable, and in fact there aren’t many left. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            The Heavy Heavy - Texas Sun

Benrinnes 12 yo Macbeth A Whisky Collection The Household Series Soldier

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

2d Fill Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

More news about this crazy venture undertaken by Livingston and Elixir Distillers, which is to release an original bottling for each character in the tragedy of Macbeth. Here we have a 12-year-old Benrinnes, matured in Refill Sherry Butts, which yielded a total of 2,400 bottles.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is very creamy and mellow, with egg custard, pastry cream, raisins, runny caramel, dates, beeswax, melted butter, mandarin orange, and a few subtle red berries. Overall, beautiful balance. On the palate, it offers melt-in-the-mouth toffee, apple compote, ripe mirabelle plums, soy sauce and, once again, a hint of red berries. The spices are subtle but add complexity, with cinnamon, rosemary and pepper. The finish is woody, long and quite powerful, caramel, treacle, milk chocolate, dried meat, redcurrants. A few cereals. 

 

In Short, 

It's a lovely little bottling, with sherry enhancing the character and identity of the distillery, and the fairly high alcohol content adding power. Typical of Benrinnes, it has a rounded, mellow flavour. The price seems fair to me, and fans of this profile should take an interest. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Bjorn Winther - The Ghost

Benrinnes 1997 Artist #15 The Dark Side of the Moon Over 25 yo

 

 

 

52,3°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Amongst the fifteenth release of the Artist range, which is very varied this year, this Benrinnes catches the eye. Aged at least 27 years, it has spent its entire maturation period in a Sherry Hogshead, and everyone knows that Benrinnes pairs very well with Sherry. 221 bottles are promised to the public, primarily on the French market. A work entitled Emotional Connection, by Stenjwa Luthuli, is featured on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Mellow and deep sherry, dates, Amarena cherries, floor wax, freshly tanned leather, salted butter caramel, wildflower honey, prunes and figs. Some forest scents, lichen and moss, mushrooms, creamy vanilla. On the palate, it is slightly more woody, with liquorice and dark chocolate, coffee beans, red fruit coulis, blood orange zest, marzipan and cooked fruit. Powerful spices, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cumin. Quite a long, explosive finish, pine resin, oak bark, argan oil, pipe tobacco. Yellow fruits, bananas and pears, toasted and indulgent cereals. 

 

In Short, 

It's everything you'd expect from a Benrinnes aged in a sherry cask, with something extra: a slightly dirty, woodsy, even earthy character. It's obviously very well made, with lots of varied flavours, but all consistent. It's just missing that little something to make it truly excellent. The price is really scary. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Boys Go To Jupiter - Handstand

Benrinnes 1996 Artist Collective #3.1 22 yo

 

 

 

51,4°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

3 Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the early days of the Artist Collective range, which was born in 2017, you could find these sorts of suitably aged gems. Here we have a blend of 3 Hogsheads that have marinated for at least 22 years, and the number of bottles produced is not known. The label features an art work by David Crunelle entitled Intarsia (what does it mean?)

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, accompanied by a minty freshness. Some sprigs of straw. Ethereal vanilla, quartz crystals. Yellow plum pulp, melon, mashed banana, grapefruit. Greedy cereals, it's floral, jasmine, primrose, courgette flower. Light but robust wood in the background, a hint of smoke. On the palate, lemon zest, creamy flan, tarte Tatin, candied lychees, coconut. Toasted wheat, untreated wood, sawdust. Long finish, not too violent, but very well managed. Green tea, fir resin, maple syrup. Fried mushrooms with a knob of butter, slight touch of bitterness. Asparagus. Artichoke hearts.

 

In Short, 

Benrinnes is a distillery I appreciate, but this one is truly impressive. The floral notes add complexity to a totally balanced nose, the palate is perfectly intense, and the finish is as long as a goods train. It's an excellent bottling, albeit a little expensive, but for connoisseurs it's worth the sacrifice.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sea Lemon - Crystals

Benrinnes 2009 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 14 yo

 

 

 

54,1° 

Distillery : BEnrinnes - Speyside 

Ex-Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Rest & Be Tahnkful Whisky was established in 2012, and in their 13 years of existence they've bottled barely 20 casks from Speyside. It's not their speciality, but they do it when they get the chance. Here we have a Benrinnes, distillery which will celebrate its bicentenary next year, and which is well suited to Sherry. And it's just as well, because the cask used here is a Sherry cask, some even say Oloroso. 577 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The nose is fresh and airy at first, then the Sherry character comes through, with candied fruit, dried fruit, red fruit coulis, leather, dried meat, varnished wood, cinnamon, dark chocolate. Some cereal and earthy notes in the background. Bark. On the palate, there's also orchard fruit, apples, pears and peaches, but otherwise the red fruits are still there, fresh tobacco leaves, light coffee, macchiato, salted butter caramel, pancakes with maple syrup, not very remarkable spices, cloves, black pepper. Quite a long finish, raisins, vanilla bean, heather earth, full-fat pudding, melting chocolate.

In Short, 

Not bad at all. The Sherry is very pronounced, but it's not a Sherry Bomb for me, there's plenty of nuance and subtlety, and you can feel the character of the distillery in the background. That said, it's very Sherry, I must admit, and it will appeal to fans of that profile. The price varies from site to site, so be careful.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Schema - Sorrow

Benrinnes 21 yo Special Release 2024 Grand Crescendo

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

2d Fill and 3d Fill Bourbon Casks, Rejuvenated ans Retoasted Ex-Wine Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This Benrinnes is the oldest bottling in the Diageo Special Releases 2024 series, this is a 21-year-old finished for 6 years in regenerated and retoasted American and European oak wine casks. The days of 26-year-old Lagavulins in the Diageo Special Releases are not so far away, but they won't be this year.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly waxy nose, beeswax, but above all floral, lilac, daisy, and fruity, plump orchard fruits, very ripe pears, yellow and white peaches, green apples, plums ready to burst. But also some red fruit, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants. On the palate, it's rather syrupy, cherry, blueberry, and vinous, with bark, forest berries. Rather discreet and subtle spices. The finish is relatively light but very long, well done, mint leaves, lemon and crushed cereals, balsamic vinegar.

 

In Short, 

It's very good, floral and very fruity, which will appeal to fans of the genre. The wine casks give a profile to this edition, without altering the distillery's character too much. What I don't like at all, however, is the price, which seems to me to be very exaggerated.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Julie Huard - Die with a Smile

Benrinnes 2011 100 Proof Edition #33 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 33rd bottling in the 100 Proof range launched just over a year ago is a Benrinnes, and it's the first one. For the occasion, they found 1st Fill Sherry Butts at least 13 years old, which should be enough to embellish the distillate.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep and rich sherry, red fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, redcurrants of all colours. Spoonfuls of jam. Forest honey. Prunes, varnished noble wood. On the palate, molasses, resin, quinces, green tea, apple crumble generously sprinkled with cinnamon. Intense spices, cloves, nutmeg, cumin. Quite a long and appreciable finish, religieuse au chocolat, slight woody bitterness, cola, coffee grounds. Shortbread biscuits, chestnuts, forest undergrowth, a few drops of caramel. 

 

In Short, 

I liked the nose, it's Sherry as we like it, deep, subtle and not sickening. The finish is also a success, just lacking a little something on the palate to make it a total success, but I didn't find what I required. That said, this is a good Benrinnes for a very attractive price, and I'd recommend buying it.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Suzie Ungerleider - The Wilds

Benrinnes 2012 Hogshead 10 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Ruby Port Octave Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Hogshead Imports

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Hogshead Imports is a little-known Dutch bottler. It used to make a variety of spirits, but switched to whisky in 2022. In two years it has produced around twenty bottlings, including this one, a Benrinnes finished in an Octave cask for the last 32 months of its maturation. Octave casks are small barrels of 80 litres maximum. Here, only 62 bottles were produced. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Particularly old school, with elegant oak, dried fruits in the background, raisins, figs, bananas, walnuts, velvety caramel, quinces, red plums and cherries, a few spices, blood oranges. You can still smell the alcohol. Spicy and fluffy on the palate, varnished wood, genoise, cloves and cumin. Amaretto, a candied vanilla pod. The finish is fairly full, chocolatey and peppery, velvety, with coffee powder, tiramisu, it's unctuous, vergeoise, slightly aniseed-flavoured. Nutmeg. 

In Short, 

You can read on the bottler's website that their aim is to make old school whiskies, and if that's all it is, it's totally successful. However, it's a good whisky, but I did find that there were a few small flaws, the nose high in alcohol, and the palate a little light. The finish, on the other hand, is very good. You can still find it here and there, at a rather high price I think, but enthusiasts can indulge themselves.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Faithless - Insomnia

Benrinnes 2010 Cask Strength Collection New Vibrations 12 yo

 

 

 

57,6°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the second bottling I've had the chance to taste, among those specially released by Signatory Vintage for Whisky Live 2023, and which will be distributed by La Maison du Whisky via the Collection New Vibrations. This is a 12-year-old Benrinnes, and like its predecessor, it has been finished in an Oloroso Sherry Butt. Logically, the first maturation took place in a Bourbon Barrel. 683 bottles are on sale, exactly the same number as for the Linkwood, if this is a coincidence, it's a big one.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

Quite dark and intense sherry, leather, red fruits, blackberries, bilberries, cranberries, and all that sort of things. Earthy hints, with bark and heather. Clove and chocolate. On the palate, fermented cherries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, vinous notes with muscat grapes and very mastered oakiness. Lively spices, nutmeg, pepper and cardamom. The finish is long, full-bodied and velvety, with cocoa powder, sandalwood, fruit jelly and ginger. Some charcoal notes to finish. Crushed chestnuts.

In Short, 

This time, the influence of the finishing cask is intense and masks the distillate a little. I don't know much about this distillery, but this bottling isn't going to help me with that. The Sherry is very well made, gourmand, deep and complex. It does lack a little originality and personality, though. The price is high without being outrageous.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Buddy Whittington Band - Help me Through the Day

Benrinnes 2011 Single Cask Berry Bros. & Rudd 12 yo

 

 

 

53,9°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside 

Pomerol Wine Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Benrinnes is renowned for the distillate it produces, thanks in particular to its Oregon pine washbacks, in which fermentation can last up to 100 hours, but the bulk of its production feeds blends such as Johnnie Walker and J&B. That's why we can be grateful to La Maison du Whisky, which, through its new New Vibrations collection, is allowing us to discover this finished juice in a Pomerol cask, a limited edition of just 204 bottles. I assume that the first maturation took place in a Bourbon cask, which would have been nice to mention.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Velvety nose, fermented cherry, sweet gooseberry. Fortunately, it's not acidic; on the contrary, it has a lovely earthy breadth, with candied sugar, jam, candied fruits, sometimes exotic, strawberry candy. The palate is a bit less expressive, with rosewater and caramel, then strong spices such as pepper and cumin, leading to a long, robust finish, with forest undergrowth, bay leaves, humus and red fruits, plums, damson and blueberries. Forest berries. 

In Short, 

The Pomerol finish gives a gentle, sweet quality, but the DNA of this whisky is more rustic, earthy and woody. It gives a nice contrast, which I liked. The price is too high, however.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Usted Señalemelo - Siento

Benrinnes 2010 Artist Collective N. 5.4 11 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

The 4th bottling from the 5th batch of the Artist Collective range launched by La Maison du Whisky in 2017 is a blend of 2 casks. Benrinnes is a famous distillery, but to my knowledge there is only one original bottling, the 15 yo Flora & Fauna, which I'm not even sure is still in circulation. That's why it's always nice to have a new independent bottling. On the label, an original work by Marco Stazzini entitled "Spray STOZ 3".

Let's Taste It :

I can smell the Pedro Ximénez Sherry, not too sweet, not excessive. Raspberry tart, with shortcrust pastry, pastry cream. Solid, varnished, smooth cherry wood. On the palate, orchard fruits, pears and nectarines. Some spices, paprika, turmeric, saffron. Ploughed earth. Nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, nutmeg. Quite earthy finish, bordering on charcoal but not quite. Suitably long. Dried apricots, quinces. Fresh vegetables, turnips, potatoes. Warm chestnuts. Slightly woody at the end.

In Short, 

I liked this product, from a distillery I didn't know at the time. An interesting discovery for me. It's a smooth, fruity distillate, with the sherry finish adding a little something extra. On the other hand, once again, the price is frankly inappropriate, this isn't a sixteen-year-old single cask strength, is it? 

Score : 87

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Wolf Larsen - If I Be Wrong