BenRiach Heart of Speyside

Review: 11/23. This appears to be the no-age-statement version, one step down from BenRiach 10, so it's likely not great. Nose: This has more vibrancy than the BenRiach 10's aroma. BenRiach 10 presents a fuller, smoother, more syrupy nectar scent. This offers a less robust aroma, but with more elements present, including citrus, woody spice, malt, hay, pasture, and a touch of sulfur, all easily detected. There's a subtle light nectar mineral sweetness, but significantly less than on the BenRiach 10 nose. Palate: The standard BenRiach 10 provides a light, nectary taste with bourbon characteristics and hints of hay. In contrast, this has a less viscous mouthfeel and less body. It's also harsher. There's a dry floral tartness along with lemon and bread notes in the flavor profile. Vanilla is present, but less so than in BenRiach 10. The flavors are decent, but not outstanding, and the sulfur is noticeable. The harshness doesn't benefit the dram at all. It has some pasture and a little salt, hinting at a resemblance to Springbank 10, but it falls quite short of that. Finish: It doesn't conclude with extreme harshness, but it is quite dry, and some of the hay notes linger. The finish is generally bland, though not unpleasant. Despite its relative blandness, I actually prefer the BenRiach 10, although this isn't drastically inferior. It shares BenRiach 10's blandness but also carries the flaw of a cheap scotch. To be fair, the sulfur and other off-notes do add complexity, but they don't improve it. This transforms BenRiach from a dull sipper into something slightly off-putting. It's not completely terrible, but it's certainly near the bottom. I enjoy it more than some lower-end options like Piper's Clan, Glen Logie, and Grant's. I'd place it above Grant's, closer to Highland Queen Majesty Sauternes in quality with a similar generic scotch profile. It's likely comparable in quality to Sir Edward's 12 (perhaps a bit better than Sir Edward's), but without that specific oily character. It seems about equal to Highland Queen Sauternes. It's harsher and less rich and nectary, but it has a more complex, traditional profile, and slightly less sulfur. It's a close call between the two, but considering the price, I would definitely choose the Highland Queen. This is definitely not rated higher than an 11, and could be a 10. I'm leaning towards 11, but it's borderline.

Aroma: Ripe pears, floral notes, light honey. Flavor: Mild honey sweetness, gentle warmth, nearly overripe pears, creamy texture, dried apples. Aftertaste: Lingering mild warmth, faint fruity bitterness, slight fruit sourness. Score: 73/100 Final Thoughts: It's acceptable but rather dull. The texture is its best feature for a 40% ABV spirit, offering a nice creamy/oily feel, but otherwise, it's quite uninteresting. Lacking depth, and the finish has an odd, subtle bitter/sour quality that's a little distracting. Would I drink it if offered? - Perhaps Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

An interesting bottle showcasing some experimental cask blending. I suspect the whisky itself is quite young, but what distinguishes this BenRiach is the abundance of dried fruits on both the nose and the palate. It's like a bowl of raisins, dried apricots, and dates. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much else beyond that. However, it is something different and also very light. I think this could be a suitable whisky for introducing newcomers to the world of whisky.

Aroma: popcorn with butter and a hint of salt. Some sweetness present. Palate: a creamy texture. Sweetness of butter and vanilla. Finish: brief. A pleasant, uncomplicated scotch. Might become my go-to for reading a good book. I'm curious to try this with some popcorn. I purchased this at a reduced price, and it was worth it!

BenRiach Heart Of Speyside Very pale in color and taste. It's easy to drink. A gentle hint of honey and an earthy note I can't quite identify. It lightly coats the palate afterward, leaving a subtle aftertaste of blended peat, smoke, and spice.

This whisky is quite direct: wood notes followed by some sherry and pear. A very subtle hint of smoke. The aftertaste is rather dull and unchanging, but not unpleasant. It's a decent beginner scotch, but nothing more.