BenRiach 21 Year

Rating: 18/23 This marks my 1400th tasting! Nose: Oily orange peel with malted barley that's not overly sweet, a hint of roasted meat with slight char, and full yet subtle wood influence. I'm not wowed by this aroma. It's adequate, but lacks complexity, richness, or intrigue. Palate: A huge improvement! There's an initial burn, but it's not harsh. It's sweet, with maltiness leading to caramel without being excessive. This blends into sweet vanilla, with baking spices like clove, cinnamon, and ginger emerging. There's also a trace of char. A bit of waxy orange peel is present. The palate is quite bold and fairly well-rounded, with moderate complexity and very pleasing richness. It's a very clean profile, aside from that touch of char. Finish: Lingering vanilla maltiness and burn. It's not a remarkably strong finish. Faint notes of waxiness and the slightest cherry. Truly, a forgettable finish. - Conclusion - This is a delightful drink. I believe it could benefit from a little softening, so I'm eager to try it again in six months. However, it's very drinkable now and quite rich. I had assumed this was 43% ABV, but tasting it, it seemed closer to 46%. It turns out it is. I can envision this being more approachable and rich at a lower ABV, but it performs quite well as is. McIvor 17 (16/23) offers more oily nuttiness and smoothness. This expression is also less musty. Frankly, I might have guessed the McIvor was older, but that could be due to it having months to mellow. Glenfarclas 25 (23/23) has a much more pronounced sherry funk and Christmas cake flavors. It's significantly richer than this. Lismore 21 (19/23) is more mellow and lighter than this, with more delicate flavors. This seems to need its edges smoothed out in comparison. For a distant comparison, I opened my bottle of Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered (18/23). It has a stronger burn and is a bit lighter, but it's quite refined. This strikes me as slightly superior. Westward American Single Malt Single Barrel Cask Strength (Mission pick) (18/23) is bolder with a more distinctive richness that gradually gains subtlety. I believe these two are very close, but I also suspect I scored the Westward too low. I do think the Westward is the winner here though. I'm settling on a 19. This is delightful, but perhaps not everything one might hope for. And it's definitely not worth the price (though I don't regret the purchase). I appreciate being able to discern the multiple cask influences, but I wish it integrated better. Eh, I'll give it an 18.

During a Benriach tasting event in Sydney on June 24, 2019, this was the second whisky presented. Nose: A reserved yet refined aroma presents subtle cereal and floral notes, reminiscent of rice crispies, plain yogurt, pyrethrum daisies, peach, and a hint of musky vanilla. As time passed, the aroma softened further and became more musky. Overall, it's pleasant but quite subdued. Palate: A very smooth and noticeably gradual arrival, primarily featuring mild spice, a touch of honey, and dusty oak. The evolution introduces gently increasing fruity notes, spice, and some intriguing, funky oak characteristics. Dried semi-sweet apricots, milk chocolate, and vanilla cookies are present. The texture is rather neutral. Finish: Medium length, with a sawdust-like and flat oak aftertaste accompanied by a hint of caramel. I found this whisky to be peculiar. It's not disagreeable, but it's excessively laid-back and lacks assertiveness. The characteristic BenRiach style is discernible, yet everything seems muted. The nose was the most appealing aspect, being gentle and reserved, but the palate was tiresome, quirky, dull, and bland. Tasting it felt like being on a prolonged train journey that never seemed to reach its destination. It certainly didn't convey any sense of maturity to me, only a kind of resigned age. While intensity isn't a necessity in a whisky's profile, for a relatively costly dram, this was uninspiring. I highly advise sampling it before buying a bottle, as you might be significantly let down. On the whole, I considered it just 'better than average,' and at the current price, I would not purchase it. 'Above Average': 82/100 (3.25 stars).

Aroma: Creamy vanilla, spicy ginger, sweet honey, ripe strawberries, tropical pineapple, grainy malt, and woody cedar. Taste: Light to moderate texture on the tongue, with notes of red berries, toffee, pungent white pepper, creamy milk chocolate, and sweet vanilla. Aftertaste: Moderate woody characteristics linger, featuring tart rhubarb, savory pastry, a hint of leather, and a touch of smoke. Subtle and not overpowering… an elegant Speyside expression… With water: Aroma – More sweetness emerges, like marshmallow, reminiscent of Japanese whiskies. Hints of apple and pear. Palate – The tartness mellows, allowing more fruit and vanilla to come forward. Finish – Extends to a lengthy conclusion, retaining the same flavor profile. This spirit feels like an attempt at intricate complexity that falls just a bit short. It brings to mind "The Ancient" from the album Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes.

This has the unmistakable character of a Speyside with added botanicals and brittle malt. The nose is deep, rich, and sweet. The palate is also sweet and herbal, with a vibrant fruitiness, malt, and oak. The finish is moderately long, leaving a spicy cola flavor and a touch of woody bitterness. While a solid whisky, it feels a bit too straightforward on its own. It would likely excel with a finishing period in unique casks, something this distillery is known for.

This expression is lighter in color than the 20-year-old. Its aroma is even more subtle, with suggestions of Bordeaux? Sweet and candied notes are present on the nose. It offers abundant fruit, including apples, peaches, and pears, along with honeysuckle and vanilla. The palate is tart and sharp, with notes of sherry, oak, and spice. It's gentle yet intricate. While not my top choice tonight at this tasting, it's still exceptionally good. The finish is excellent, long and warming. Truly delightful.

The fragrance is multifaceted, featuring chocolate and red fruits, a wine-like sweetness of grapes, sweet malt, and numerous other notes in the background. The taste is light, with fine chocolate and a very sweet impression of light sweet berries, again sweet malt, a touch of toffee, and cream. The finish is light, creamy, and of medium length, leaving behind a sensation of cashews and fine malt.