BenRiach 22 Year (Dark Rum Finished)

Nose: Brown sugar, malted milk powder, caramel, dark fruit cake, red berries and cherries. The scent of quality oak casks is potent and after some time, significant honey and milk chocolate aromas emerge. It's a captivating aroma, well-balanced, leaning towards rich. Neat, there's a slight alcohol bite, but water softens this and enhances the nose. Palate: The initial taste is very sweet, with cotton candy, copious milk chocolate, vanilla, honeycomb, and nougat. It's like drinking Toblerone. As it develops, mild spice notes appear (white pepper, sweet cinnamon, licorice) offering some balance, but increasingly sweet, syrupy notes also emerge. The rum cask influence is evident, and the character is almost exaggerated, yet not quite. The texture is buttery but not heavy. Finish: Medium/Long. Sweet, with nut butter, chocolate, rum, and brown sugar lingering. An intriguing spirit with a very rich and appealing nose, but the palate doesn't fully meet expectations. It's good but busy, sweet, and overdone rather than complex. However, it is undeniably rich and hard to dislike. This is a very sweet spirit that would serve well as a nightcap or an after-dinner drink in place of dessert wine. This was released in 2016 and is still available. The local price of AUD$320 is fair for a 22-year-old single malt of this caliber and it's worth getting if you are a Benriach fan, or if you especially enjoy whisky with a sweet rum finish. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Thanks to a friend for adding this entry. I received a sample of this from MoM. Smells of candy floss, brown sugar, creme brulee, honeysuckle, and caramel. On the palate, dark rum and spice come through along with the previously mentioned flavors. The aftertaste is a bit disappointing with a slight glue-like bitterness, but it's still warming. I was considering a four-star rating, but as some drams improve with time while others' flaws become more prominent and overpowering, I'll give it a maximum of 3.75. It's also not an inexpensive bottle at $200 USD. Don't worry, a friend, I often find the same off-putting bitterness in Macallans, which prevents most from getting a higher rating, bringing them down to 3.75 territory. It's not an issue for most people, including yourself, so I'm sure you'll enjoy the bottle more than I do:-)

This spirit was initially aged in American barrels, then finished in dark rum casks from Jamaica. It's non-chill filtered, retains its natural color, and is bottled at 46% ABV, typical for Benriach. Nose: Delightful fruit cake with sliced almonds. A sweet medley of berries, honey, and caramel. The rum cask has a significant impact, contributing to a very sweet profile when combined with the bourbon barrels. Taste: Very spicy and sweet, with a mild pepper blend, followed by overripe fruits like plums and quinces. The malt remains well-balanced. Finish: Medium, with a sensation of buttery nuts, specifically Brazil nuts and sliced almonds. I would try it again if I encountered it elsewhere.