Benrinnes 1997 17 Year Cask #9631 (Berry Bros & Rudd)

This is Benrinnes, a Speyside distillery. It's mainly used in Dewars blends, but the distillery has a history of damage and rebuilding. They previously used a partial triple distillation method before 2007, unlike the typical double distillation. The specifics of this process were complex and went beyond my understanding. This 17-year-old from Berry Bros’ was made in 1997 using that distillation technique and bottled in 2015 from cask 9631. It's 46% ABV, non chill filtered, and has a natural pale straw color. The aroma offers creamy vanilla, which I enjoy in whisky, followed by perfumed oak and powdered sugar sweetness. Notes of toffee, caramel, and brown sugar/molasses appear, then fruity hints of coconut, plums, grapes, pineapple, peach, and nectarines. There are also light bourbon notes, lemon oil, a bit of grassy/herbal character, and candle wax. More vanilla, honey, and green tea emerge. The taste starts peppery, then a burst of tropical fruits like mango, papaya, coconut, and pineapple hits. Charred oak, leather, tobacco, and honey are present, along with mixed berries, cherries, and brown sugar. Hints of wood spices such as nutmeg and ginger are also detected. It's quite different from the nose's profile. A medium-bodied texture coats the mouth and feels dry. The lengthy finish has oak, tropical fruits, a subtle licorice, and tea. It began with pleasant vanilla on the nose but ended with intense tropical flavors, which was unexpected. This is an exceptional find from Berry's. At $78, it's a good value for a 17-year-old. The quality is high, but it's not something I'd drink frequently due to its intensity, which can be tiring. Thanks to a friend for the sample. 3.5-3.75 Cheers

I finally got around to reviewing one of my own bottles that I shared with friends on this crazy distillery tour: Benrinnes 17yo. This is a highland distillery that once was located along the River Spey. It was washed away by floodwaters in 1829, only to be rebuilt in 1835. In fact, this place has been destroyed and rebuilt 3-4 times over the years. They even used the triple distillation process until 2007, which I believe constantly raises the ABV while making the spirit smoother. This bottle is an individual cask (#9631) acquired by Berry Bros & Rudd from the U.K. mainland. It's 17 years old (distilled in 1997, bottled in 2015), comes in at 46% ABV, and has no added color while being non-chill filtered. The nose is heavy with orchard fruits: apples and pears that shift towards tropical fruit after a little time. Bananas and papaya fruit stand out. There's an ever-present but restrained oak forming a solid backbone here as well. Very nice. The palate echoes the nose: stronger oak, tropical fruits cover the tongue and linger until the peppery finish. The mouthfeel is thick and oily. It's quite luscious, actually. The finish is medium length and really smooth. More tropical notes linger while releasing pepper and heat as you exhale. Even after a few moments, there was still an oily residue/feeling left behind. Overall, this might be the best bottle I've experienced from Berry Bros & Rudd. I'd also like to find a distillery bottling from Benrinnes. I believe they offer a 15 and 21-year-old bottle that they blend in-house, but the price might be a barrier: over $300 for the 21yo. Wow, that's Macallan-like. I think I'd give this one 3.75 stars and I'll round up to a 4 because the price wasn't too bad here. A really solid independent offering. Cheers.

We're going through round 5 of the Scottish distillery trades. A friend sent this one. I don't normally consume this much, no joke. I usually get up early, hit the gym, then work extremely hard all day, until the weekend finally arrives for kids' activities. A single drink is reserved for Friday and Sunday. The other days are for matcha green tea. But something about this round 5 has me going through it quickly, as if I want to finish so I can enjoy the extra bonus samples (Macallan Rare Cask and the Kilchoman Red Wine one are calling to me). Okay, enough rambling. Now, this 17-year-old expression is behaving like a young teenager, much like today's youth. It has the smell of bread baking and a pleasant, non-aggressive taste, similar to a typical suburban housewife. The lingering finish is not bad, like honeycombs coated in chocolate. I'm uncertain of the cost, but it's comparable to Balvenie 12's older sibling. Thanks for the sample.

The weekend commences. A pour of Benrinnes 17, cask #9631, provided to the SDT. This round has featured some non-standard and hard-to-find bottles. The aroma initially arrives sweet, like vanilla cream soda. As it opens up, Speyside characteristics emerge. Light brown sugar, honey, ripe apples or pears with some tropical pineapple notes. A pinch of cinnamon and ginger spice adds an edge or balance to the sweeter aromas. A solid opening that prepares the palate. The palate is spicy and sweet. As time progresses, the sweetness intensifies. The palate reflects the aromas with orchard and tropical fruits, brown sugar, and ginger root. These flavors are contained within a medium-light body. An oakiness surfaces as it leads to the finish. That oakiness is slightly drying and briefly peaks with ginger and wasabi. The conclusion has slightly bitter orange notes, though not overtly so. An enjoyable drink from start to finish. It remains consistent and is balanced with spice and sweetness. Solid. Does it warrant a high price tag? No. But discovering a dram might be worth the journey. Thanks to my friend for that journey. [87/100][Tasted: 4/6/18]

The aroma begins with a gentle sweetness imparted by the oak. Notes of vanilla, brown sugar, ginger, honey, a dried tea bag or hearty tobacco, and crystallized oranges are present. The taste offered a savory broth with lemon tea, reminiscent of miso or wonton soup. The finish was brief, featuring honey and a hint of mocha. Adding water revealed more fruit and floral characteristics, and the spirit, despite its 46% ABV, was not diminished. The overall impression of this drink is "Pennyroyal Tea" by Nirvana. This is among the finest independent bottlings from Berry's I've encountered. Score: 3.75. My gratitude to a friend for the sample.