New to Pops - Benraich 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malts

Benraich – 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malts

All Benriach whiskies are distilled from a combination of highland peated and unpeated malts which are aged least twelve years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and finished in Marsala wine casks. All their Whiskies are Non-Chill Filtered and have natural color. As noted on their website, Benriach is one of just two remaining distilleries in Speyside to distill whisky using malted barley from its own floor maltings, celebrating a tradition which started when the distillery was first founded by John Duff in 1898.

Benriach The Twelve - 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt

The nose carries aromas of baked fruit, honey, hints of orange peel and dark chocolate. The use of both sherry and port cask give this whisky flavors of baked apple and pear that are combined with hints of cherry, malt, honey, cacao, some spice and vanilla at the end. There is just a hint of oak throughout.

There are flavors of chocolate, with hints of caramel on the long finish together with some licorice and spice like cinnamon and nutmeg. The long lasting aftertaste again has flavors of caramel or malt with notes of wood and milk coffee.

Conclusion

While quite easy-drinking this whisky has good complexity with great balance between the fruity flavors, the malty core and spiciness that linger on the finish. This is definitely one of the best core 12 year old Scotch Single Malt whiskies I have tasted in the last few years.

Wine Enthusiast 96 points

TOP 100 SPIRITS 2021

What's in the bottle is a 12-year-old single malt aged in a combination of Sherry, bourbon and Port barrels. Expect a tawny hue and almond and fresh red apple aromas. The palate opens brisk and bold, showing caramel and baked apple flavors. A splash of water brings out mocha tones alongside cinnamon and ginger. Overall, this is a lightly sweet sipper, warming and delicious. Kara Newman, 12/31/2021.

Whiskey Advocate: 90 points

This is a new recipe, replacing the old 12 year old. Rounded and warming on the nose, with stewed fruits, orange peel, and a hint of lime. Voluptuous in the mouth, with honey, milky coffee, figs, and dried fruit. Black currants, licorice, and lively spices in the finish. A really satisfying, well-structured dram. Gavin Smith, Winter 2020.

Benraich The Smokey Twelve – Peated 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt

On the nose there are aromas of baked apple and pear, wood smoke, vanilla, with hints of toasted almond, orange and pineapple.

The flavors of malt, chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit and roasted nuts of the whisky are gently combined with the flavors of wood smoke and a hint of earthiness. These smoky notes do not have the medicinal character and intensity that many Islay whisky’s get from the peat fires used to dry the malt. Rather the smoke flavors remind me of my childhood when my best friends mother baked using a wood fired stove.

On the finish there is more of the smoke with flavors of dark chocolate and hints of roasted orange peel.

Conclusion

There is great balance of the fruity, malty character and the peaty notes underlying this whisky. A whisky that is very east to drink; the smokiness making it distinct among the many other 12 Year old Single Malts.

Wine Enthusiast 95 points

Toffee and cocoa aromas nestle with mild peat on the nose. The palate mingles toffee and dark chocolate with dried cranberry and tart lemon peel. Adding water brings peat smoke and black pepper forward, plus a hint of anise and vanilla into the drying finish. This is a 12-year-old single malt matured in casks that held bourbon, Sherry and Marsala. Kara Newman, 12/31/2021.

Whiskey Advocate: 94 points

#3 in the 2020 Top 20, Whisky Advocate

Benriach is a sleeper of a single malt, but that’s about to change. Part of a 2020 relaunch of its core line, this grabbed our attention with its sophistication, breadth of flavors, and lovely refinement. Much of the credit surely goes to master blender Rachel Barrie for creating a smoky whisky that both peat lovers and the peat-wary can enjoy. Rather than medicinal intensity, the peat is redolent of gentle, sweetly smoky fruits that integrate seamlessly with notes of vanilla, toasted almond, chocolate, blueberry, and bacon. It beckons like the wafting smoke of a warming autumn bonfire, then welcomes with its lush and velvety embrace. Number 3 in the 2020 Top 20. Jeffery Lindenmuth, Winter 2020.

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