I really liked the first two bottlings (Albarzia and Dunder) in the series, although both were not up to my (admittedly high) expectations. Maybe third time’s the charm.

Facts

BenRiach 18 Years Old Latada

Nose

At first, pretty “camping-like”, if you know what I mean: campfire smoke, mossy stones, grass and wet leaves. Gets more fruitier with some time. Overripe melons, white grapes and pears. Also raspberries candies and marzipan. Some herbs. Hints of vanilla, leather and… iodine? Never had this in a non-Islay before. Interesting. Great nose, everything works well together.

Taste

Dry smoke with earthy and peaty undertones. Honeyed bananas, dried fruits and bitter citrus fruits, grapefruits perhaps. Some charred oak in the back. Pretty good but quite different than the nose would suggest.

Finish

Long with lots of dry smoke. Dried citrus fruits and tea leaves. A bit weak compared to the rest.

Overall

The best of the series for me. Highly pleasant, but it needs time to grow on you. It’s just too bad that the finish is a bit weak, because otherwise the score would be even higher!

Score: 88 / 100

This is one of two BenRiachs that were released last year by Malts of Scotland. The other one is a 23 Years Old and was matured in a bourbon barrel. Independent bottlings from BenRiach are a relatively rare species nowadays, so I’m really excited about this one.

Facts

BenRiach 1996 (Malts of Scotland)

Nose

Lots of white fruits. White peach, bananas, pears and pineapple cream. The fruitiness is nicely balanced by honeycombs and hints of vanilla and caramel. There is also something “green” in the background like garden herbs, mint and ivy.

Taste

Creamy and very smooth with a honeyed sweetness. The light fruits are back again in form of grapes, yellow raisins, pineapples and mountain peach. Then a bit spicy and peppery. Caramel makes a short appearance at the end.

Finish

Very long with a dry sweetness and a good deal of oak. Cinnamon, licorice, wood polish, dark chocolate and herbs.

Overall

A very fruity and smooth cask strength single malt. In some ways pretty close to an actual bourbon.

Score: 85 / 100

‘Dunder’ is the liquid left in a still after the distillation of a rum batch. It is the traditional yeast source in the fermentation process of Jamaica Rum.

Facts

BenRiach Dunder 18 Years Old

Nose

Gentle and aromatic campfire smoke, far away from being ‘heavily peated’. Very sweet aromas of grilled bananas with rum-molasses glaze. Hints of burned candy floss and vanilla. Overall, a fine balance between the smoke and the rum influences.

Taste

A bit weaker than expected. Caramelized fruits and burned sugar cane. The campfire smoke gets stronger with time. The rum is spicier now, almost peppery. Fresh ginger. Hints of bananas.  Drying towards the end.

Finish

Very long with lingering wood smoke.

Overall

Rum and smoke complement each other well, although I would have preferred a stronger rum influence.

Score: 87 / 100

Not long ago, I already reviewed another 10 years old Benriach, namely the BenRiach 10th Anniversary Bottling. However, that one was solely matured in ex-bourbon barrels (and was bottled at 46.0% ABV), whereas this expression is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.

Facts

BenRiach 10 Years Old

Nose

A whole pile of custard in the front, combined with a soft, fresh fruitiness – pears, peaches and apricots. Stem ginger. Some gold kiwi fruits for an added citric touch. Hints of cherry blossoms and mint. All rounded off by barley sugar.

Taste

Warming yet light. A harmonious interplay between Granny Smiths and toasted oak. Then cacao powder, peaches and some anise. Hints of lemon zest.

Finish

Rather medium than long. Becomes increasingly drier with a touch of barley sugar.

Overall

Nicely uncomplicated.

Score: 84 / 100

The name ‘Albarzia’ originates from the same-named white chalky (alba means white) soil in Andalusia. This unique soil is able of absorbing rainwater and giving it back in summertime to the vines. Interestingly enough, there are actual very few Pedro Ximenez vineyards left in the Jerez area nowadays.

Facts

BenRiach Albariza 18 Years Old

Nose

Big, heather honeyed smoke, very present but not overpowering. Soft touches of dry fruits custard. Strewn with very finely chopped Provencal herbs. This combo might sound a bit strange at first, but believe me, this is very delicate stuff.

Taste

Alright, the delivery is weaker than expected but not a complete downfall either. Sherry and smoke complement each other well, although the latter is a bit more dominant. A bag full of dried fruits paired with vanilla infused honey. Some green pepper for the extra kick.

Finish

Rather medium than long. The sweet smoke quickly fades away and leaves behind a dry spiciness.

Overall

Unfortunately, the surprisingly thin palate does not really match up with the very promising and almost award-worthy nose, otherwise the score would be much higher!

Score: 86 / 100

Sample provided by Thorsten Jung (Spiritscorner.eu)

Similarly to the old Sauternes expression, this new one is matured in bourbon barrels and afterwards finished in Sauternes casks. So the only difference seems to be the age – if not and you know more, please drop me a comment below. This is a limited release although I could not find an official statement about how strictly limited it is.

But now let’s see what difference one year can make.

Facts

BenRiach 15 Years Old Sauternes Finish

Nose

A very lovely combo of apricot jam and ripe, juicy honeydew melon. Some subtle honey sweetness from the Sauternes. Joined by a minty note and floral undertones.

Taste

Rather oily and pretty fruity. Plums and grapes, balanced by lemon and orange zest. Now a slight tingling on the tongue. Also some toasted oak, present but more in the background.

Finish

Long. Peppery and slightly dry.

Overall

This is, pretty much like its predecessor, not a big, sweet dessert whisky. However the oak took a noticeable back seat here and thus the fruits can shine more through. Lovely and delicate with a very subtle Sauternes influence.

Score: 86 / 100

Sample provided by Thorsten Jung (Spiritscorner.eu)

Later today I will also review this new Sauternes expression from BenRiach, but now it is time for BenRiach 16 Years Old Sauternes Finish.

Facts

BenRiach 16 Years Old Sauternes Wood Finish

Nose

The Sauternes brings in some honey sweetness including some very subtle noble rote. With some times sweet raisins and white wine must evolve. Now also a touch citric. Undertones of hay.

Taste

Feels a bit like chewing on sticky caramel. Touches of vanilla balanced by white pepper. Then the oak has its big appearance. 

Finish

Long with peppery oak.

Overall

Do not expect a big, sweet dessert whisky. This is a more wood driven expression and the Sauternes is rather subtle. Still nicely balanced and pleasant

Score: 85 / 100 

Facts

BenRiach 10th Anniversary Bottling

Nose

Vanilla mousse, next a layer of sugared Williams pears out of the can and then another layer of vanilla mousse. The whole thing is lightly stewed with coconut flakes. Over time the vanilla becomes more evident.

Taste

A light and soft entry to the palate as one could expected from the nose. But all of the sudden it gets really spicy. A wave of toasted oak and white pepper pushes into the foreground. Once this spicy wave is flatting off, a very pleasant sweetness develops – butterscotch, vanilla and the pear from the nose.

Finish

medium-length, slightly dry with some subtle spice

Overall

This has a lot of character for its young age – multifaceted and elegant but at the same time expressive, too. An absolute worthy anniversary bottling for this special occasion.

Score: 92 / 100