Category Archives: Benrinnes
Benrinnes 15yo
Whisky: Benrinnes 15yo, 43%
Flora and Fauna
± £36 ≈ R400
Owned by Diageo, and mainly used for blends, original distillery bottlings of Benrinnes aren’t common. There seems to be only 2-3 from what I can tell, and this official Diageo release is counted as one. There are several independent bottlings available, and many of them have received solid scores from whisky bloggers and writers.
Nose: Cloudy red apple juice. Earthen and dusty; reminds me of the smell of tarred roads on a hot day after a rain shower. Minced meat, and beef jerky with those sweet light smoke notes. Wild flowers and some leather.
Taste: Smooth wood, spice and chilli, but balanced with some strong stewed fruit sweetness. Quite a chewiness to it. Pomegranates and cranberries? A hint of liquorice, and that faint smoke persists.
Finish: Leaves the mouth feeling freshly polished. A little drying spice. Warming and long.
My Score: 81
This is a pleasant dram with a good delivery and an involved nose. Not a well known distillery, but if you enjoy ex-sherry its worth locating a bottle. This particular bottle is well priced too for what it offers.
Other Scores: JH 83
