BenRiach 15 Year Tawny Port Finish

I sought this out for a considerable period as I've generally enjoyed BenRiach. I previously tried their PX cask but invested the extra funds for a bottle of this, which is also part of BenRiach's specialized wood-finish range. And it is worthwhile. Truly. While the PX is good, this Tawny Port is considerably superior. It carries the pleasant richness of the standard 16-year-old plus a very prominent dark, fruity, and mature port aroma that immediately greets you upon pouring into a glass. NOSE: Marzipan, fresh brown sour apple juice, dark honey mead, mulled wine, mango, ripe black currant & dark gooseberries - all sweet and simultaneously equally sour. There is no discernible alcohol present, and it's very smooth on the nose. Also - I'm unsure if you're familiar with it - there's something known as "fruit leather," which is essentially dried fruits blended, rolled out, and dehydrated to create a leather-like confection. This Tawny Port spirit smells like that type of fruit leather made from fresh dark red sour apple along with other orchard fruits. PALATE: It is undeniably a medium-aged BenRiach, which has been exceptionally enhanced by this port finish. It starts off gentle and smooth, and you don't get much distraction from its 46% ABV. After a short while, you distinctly perceive the wood from the cask, which "communicates" its history in bourbon oak. Then, the port wood reappears with a fruity sour sensation and mild bitterness, which integrates nicely. FINISH: The only minor drawback is that the port's intensity doesn't linger very long, leaving behind the oak characteristics and a very mild sourness, suggesting the Tawny Port finish perhaps wasn't excessively prolonged. The more pronounced the special cask-finish is initially on the nose and mid-palate, the less it persists in the finish. Overall, this is highly enjoyable and something unique. You find yourself thinking, "Yeah, this one is really good" while drinking it... "Was it really that good?"... "Yes, okay, it is still quite nice indeed." It distinctly reflects Speyside characteristics, and with its smoothness and mature fruity flavors, it makes for a perfect evening dram... or two.

I reopened this Parafilm-sealed bottle for the holiday season, and it's truly a fantastic whisky. I'm a fan of BenRiach, and this one is definitely among my favorites. I stand by my previous rating of 4.25 from about a year ago (I rarely rate above 4), as it's simply so delicious. It offers dark, ripe grape sweetness with a delightful spiciness, buttery vanilla cream, significant port-soaked dark old wood, and a lovely, vibrant fruity dryness that adds a crisp, bright dimension. However, the silky texture makes it dangerously drinkable, yet it possesses incredible complexity, richness, and depth, along with that exciting young crispness. It's a shame this is no longer available and difficult to find on the secondary market. It would certainly be a staple on my top shelf if I could acquire another bottle.

Tasted on February 18, 2017, at The Irish Heather Gastropub. Actually the rare 18 year old, not listed here. Only 597 bottles were produced. We loved it and bought bottles 136 and 137. $35 per dram in the establishment. From cask #10300, in a limited release of just 597 bottles, this BenRiach expression, exclusively available in BC and Alberta, powerfully showcases port influence at a substantial 54.2% ABV. Port is a fortified wine from Portugal, where fermentation is halted to retain natural sugars. Distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2016, this is part of BenRiach’s extensive wood exploration under master distiller Billy Walker.

Regarding the Hart Brothers Benriach 15 first port pipe fill from K&L. Nose: Quite sweet, with notes of grapes, cognac, and prominent port. Body: Rich, viscous, and smooth. Finish: Very sweet and prolonged, with more grape notes. I appreciate this, though it's one-dimensional. If tasted without knowing, I could have mistaken it for high-proof port. It brings to mind the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which offers better value.

Great pour. It was the second best of the evening, falling just short of the Bowmore Double the Devil, which was the definitive winner. Intense honey flavor, with notes of berry creme brulee. The port element is subtle. My guess is that, like many Benriachs, its quality will decline fairly rapidly after opening, as it lacks substantial body to protect its flavors from oxidation.

Color: - Orange wood Aroma: - Woody, Port wine, and fruity - Softer with a sweet character (*) Palate: - Floral and fruity - Still floral and fruity, but much better balanced (*) Finish: - Intense and medium length. (*) = With a few drops of water added.