BenRiach Tasting – Rioja and Bourbon Casks
The Whisky Boys received another couple of samples from Nicol van Rijbroek a marketing executive from The BenRiach Distillery Co. Ltd. and once again a big thank you goes out to Nicol. Last night Jim and Nicola got together to taste a couple of good looking drams from BenRiach Distillery.
In 2008, The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd ,purchased the GlenDronach Distillery, located in Forgue by Huntly in Aberdeenshire. GlenDronach is world famous for producing richly sherried single malt Whisky and has a longstanding history dating back to 1826.
Today both the BenRiach and GlenDronach Distilleries are once again producing single malt Whiskies as independent distilleries and a bright and exciting future lies ahead for both.
The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd.
Queen Anne Drive
Lochend Industrial Estate
Newbridge,
EH28 8LN
Scotland.
telephone – 0131 456 2611
fax – 0131 456 2688
info@benriachdistillery.co.uk
The BenRiach Distillery,
By Elgin,
Morayshire,
IV30 8SJ
telephone – 01343 862888
fax – 01343 862999
website www.benriachdistillery.co.uk
We would suggest to everyone to check out the website and take in all that is BenRiach, their story and all their expressions.
Our first tasting tonight is:-
BenRiach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 17 Year Old Rioja Cask 46% Alc/vol 70cl
Matured in the traditional style in American bourbon barrels, this whisky is then ‘finished’ in Rioja wine barrels, sourced from Northern Spain. During this second period of maturation the whisky derives many interesting characteristics specific to the Rioja wine barrels.
Colour…Sunburst amber
Nicola’s Tasting
Nose…Table wine and custard creams.
Taste…Tasty, hot and sweet, dry, Sunny Spanish afternoons, raisins and chocolate dip.
Finish…Medium with a lovely sweet and drying sensation.
Score…3.5 Corks
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Floral and garden aroma’s, a little aromatic spice, a little wood and vanilla.
Taste…Creamy and loads of fruit, fruits of the forest jam, some sweet Scottish heather honey, lightly perfumed.
Finish…Medium to long, spice coats your mouth and the sweet fruit is just delightful.
Score…3.5 Corks
This is a wee cracker and the first we have tasted with a Rioja wine cask finish, it is sweet and quite easy drinking and only requires the smallest amount of water. After this wee dram we cannot wait to open the next one, and that is:-
BenRiach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 12 Year Old, Bourbon Cask, 40% Alc/vol
This is an award winning malt from BenRiach’s Flagship Range.
Colour…Spring lemon
Nicola’s Tasting
Nose…sweetie milk bottles, vanilla soaked lemons.
Taste…Light sweet sponge cake, Victoria sponge with butter icing, all splashed with Bourbon.
Finish…Medium and pleasantly mild.
Score…3.5 Corks
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Vanilla coated fresh fruit, a little floral note and the every so slight hint of spice.
Taste…Oak and loads of vanilla, honey and dark chocolate, some barley sugar bon bons.
Finish…Medium, apples appear and the Bourneville chocolate still lingers.
Score…3 Corks
These two drams are excellent, we both enjoyed the Rioja finish the best, the 12 year old is an ideal mid afternoon sipping dram. These two bottles are available at your local specialist Whisky shop and certainly on-line via our shop windows.
