The Benriach? Any good expressions?

[Pete Smoke]

Any idea if the price of the 40% is lower than the previous 46%?

Very slightly cheaper, a bit of an overlap. Checking whiskybase, it seems that the 46% is a 2006 bottling and it's been 40% ever since.

[Willie JJ]

I'm afraid I've avoided BenRiach recently as I've found the Laddie style explosion of releases a real turn off. That said the 21yo Authenticus peated version has been poured down my throat on a number of ocassions and has been excellent and I don't recall being disappointed by others that have been placed in front of me.

[mongo]

i know, i know. i don't believe in ratings myself, and yet i constantly succumb to their pressure.

in this particular instance (and some others) it's the consistent rating given by multiple reviewers that gives me pause. there are some bottles which get scores in the 72-90 range from the maniacs and end up with a low-80s average--this is not one of them.

The rating isn't as consistent as you suggest- even for this one.

i was referring only to the relative consistency of the five malt maniacs scores for the 15yo portwood 46% that i linked to above.

[solera]

I found the Curiositas to be excellent at 46% and also a Signatory "heavily peated". Go for it if you like peated whisky and tell us what you think - suspect you won't be disappointed.

[two-bit cowboy]

Very slightly cheaper, a bit of an overlap. Checking whiskybase, it seems that the 46% is a 2006 bottling and it's been 40% ever since.

I recently bought a case of Curiositas for the saloon (USA); still 46% and the same price as 2008.

I have a peated single cask 1994 (12 years old) that had been finished in a sherry cask -- my least favorite BenRiach. The standard 12 is a nice representative of Speyside. Curiositas is stunning, Authenticus is a SuperStar, but, I agree, neither is an Islay sibling.

There seems to be this theory that every peated whisky must mirror the kids from Islay. Too bad, really. Many peated, non-Islay's are terrific.

[portwood]

There seems to be this theory that every peated whisky must mirror the kids from Islay. Too bad, really. Many peated, non-Islay's are terrific.

Good point. I now regret using the Islay reference.
I'm new to this. Lesson learned.

[Pete Smoke]

Very slightly cheaper, a bit of an overlap. Checking whiskybase, it seems that the 46% is a 2006 bottling and it's been 40% ever since.

I recently bought a case of Curiositas for the saloon (USA); still 46% and the same price as 2008.

I am slightly confused. There could be an error, it does state 46% for 2006, and 40% for 2007 and 2009.

[two-bit cowboy]

[/quote]I am slightly confused. There could be an error, it does state 46% for 2006, and 40% for 2007 and 2009.[/quote]

Yeah, I was confused when I saw your original post about the 40%. Can't imagine the stuff in the Preiss Imports warehouse is still from 2006, but the Preiss Web site lists it at 46%. Couldn't locate the % on the BenRiach site.

[two-bit cowboy]

Good point. I now regret using the Islay reference.
I'm new to this. Lesson learned.

No need to regret it. Seems that lots of diehards believe only Islay makes worthy peated whisky.

I learn every time I stop by here.

[Peat Sampras]

I think I only have tasted peated BenRiachs so far and it is not my cuppa. Like others, I have yet to find a peated Speysider to please my palate. Never say never though. However, BenRiach is one of the most beautiful distilleries I have ever seen, situated in the heart of Speyside. Lovely.

[JethroTull]

i know this is very weak-minded of me, but frankly, the lukewarm scores the malt maniacs, and serge in particular, give to this line as a whole (the younger, affordable ones anyway) have always stopped me from indulging my own curiositas. that and the stupid names.

The young Benriachs are usually excellent.

The 10 and the 21 are the most Islay-like of the peated speysiders available. The 12 is good but the 16 is the most representative of the non-peated range.

For a treat, get yourself a miniatures pack and taste the 12, 16 and 20 year old back to back. They look identical to the naked eye but the tastes are a quantum leap apart.

[mongo]

i know this is very weak-minded of me, but frankly, the lukewarm scores the malt maniacs, and serge in particular, give to this line as a whole (the younger, affordable ones anyway) have always stopped me from indulging my own curiositas. that and the stupid names.

The young Benriachs are usually excellent.

The 10 and the 21 are the most Islay-like of the peated speysiders available. The 12 is good but the 16 is the most representative of the non-peated range.

For a treat, get yourself a miniatures pack and taste the 12, 16 and 20 year old back to back. They look identical to the naked eye but the tastes are a quantum leap apart.

thanks for the tips.

[les taylor]

There are two new expressions coming.

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000001296

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000001297

Evidently my sources say they are very good.

[jwise]

There are two new expressions coming.

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000001296

BENRIACH 12 Year Old Horizons
Distillery: Benriach

Horizons is Benriach's latest experiment in whisky by elevating their malt to the painfully small range of triple distilled Scottish whisky. In addition to this it is set to be very rich in nose and palate with a minimum finishing time of three years in Oloroso sherry butts!

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/produc ... 0000001297

BENRIACH 15 Year Old Solstice
Distillery: Benriach

This limited edition bottling of Benriach is not only a 15 year old tawny port at cask strength but is heavily peated and triple distilled! Since the casks used in this are the best that the distillery manager and the master blender have found in the warehouse this looks set to be fantastic!

Evidently my sources say they are very good.

Wow! These DO look good! And both are 50% ABV.

However, the triple distillation worries me, as the only other triple distilled spirits I've had were Auchentoshan 10yr (which I did not like), and Irish whiskey (which I did not particularly like - I don't remember which ones I've had, maybe Jameson?)

[bboivin]

I'll buy the Old Solstice release, I think it sounds interesting.

[scotchio]

Interesting or laddie esque overkill. A lowland tradition peated like Islay then matured in port.Have they no respect for traditions

[jwise]

I am a bit of a traditionalist, and would prefer to see distilleries producing whisky in their own regional traditions. I understand that each distillery is just trying to capture as much market share as possible, but it is destroying the relevance of whisky regions. However, I also like variety. I don't mind it when distilleries experiment with various finishes, but leave the distillation/malting processes alone.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who enjoy the peated highland whiskies, and don't care at all about traditional whisky making.

Just my thoughts...

[Anster]

I like the 10YO Curiositas, the smoke's not overly complex but well suited to the spirit and not just a curiosity as the name might suggest (very good value too). I also enjoyed the 13 YO Maderensis Fumosus when I tried it a few months ago. Unusual, but in a good way.

[C57]

I am a bit of a traditionalist, and would prefer to see distilleries producing whisky in their own regional traditions. I understand that each distillery is just trying to capture as much market share as possible, but it is destroying the relevance of whisky regions. However, I also like variety. I don't mind it when distilleries experiment with various finishes, but leave the distillation/malting processes alone.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who enjoy the peated highland whiskies, and don't care at all about traditional whisky making.

Just my thoughts...

Peated highland malts are traditional.
And I'd far rather they didn't "finish", most of the time. Though there are exceptions, like the original Glenmo Port Wood

[scotchio]

Aye but they didn't generally triple distill.Or did they ? If you go back far enough weren't most triple distilling

[karlejnar]

Re: BenRiach peated, triple distilled, port matured etc.

I think we should look at these "experiments" from a different perspective. First of all it's not the same as Bruichladdich does, since they do all these experiments on new distilations done after they took over the distillery.
Secondly these are casks laid down by the previous owner - Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) most likely for use in their blends. A number of their distilleries did peated batches now and again, to secure casks for blending without having to buy these from Islay distilleries. That's the main reason why we now see peated Benriach, Caperdonich and maybe others. The new owners of BenRiach are now bottling these casks as single malts. I think that's a good thing because it gives more variety.
I don't care much for finishing but admit that on occasions it can work nicely.
And I don't care at all about the regions which is just a nice way to put distilleries in boxes for the kind of people that like to do that.

Variety is the keyword for me. And I like to be surpriced every now and again.

BTW the best BenRiachs I ever had were a few cask samples arranged on top of a barrel in a primitive set up beside the kiln at the distillery

[DavidUK]

I think I only have tasted peated BenRiachs so far and it is not my cuppa. Like others, I have yet to find a peated Speysider to please my palate. Never say never though. However, BenRiach is one of the most beautiful distilleries I have ever seen, situated in the heart of Speyside. Lovely.

Generally I agree about peated Speysides not being quite right, although the lightly peated (8ppm) Benromach 10 yo is very good indeed!!

[Frodo]

I tried a 15yr Benriach PX finish and was really impressed.

[Willie JJ]

I am a bit of a traditionalist, and would prefer to see distilleries producing whisky in their own regional traditions. I understand that each distillery is just trying to capture as much market share as possible, but it is destroying the relevance of whisky regions. However, I also like variety. I don't mind it when distilleries experiment with various finishes, but leave the distillation/malting processes alone.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who enjoy the peated highland whiskies, and don't care at all about traditional whisky making.

Just my thoughts...

Peated highland malts are traditional.

Indeed. And the whisky regions are a marketing concept devised little more than a couple of decades ago.

Aye but they didn't generally triple distill.Or did they ? If you go back far enough weren't most triple distilling

Triple distillation, although more identified with lowland malts, was common enough elsewhere. Even Talisker was triple distilled until the 1920s.

Re: BenRiach peated, triple distilled, port matured etc.

I think we should look at these "experiments" from a different perspective. First of all it's not the same as Bruichladdich does, since they do all these experiments on new distilations done after they took over the distillery.
Secondly these are casks laid down by the previous owner - Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) most likely for use in their blends. A number of their distilleries did peated batches now and again, to secure casks for blending without having to buy these from Islay distilleries. That's the main reason why we now see peated Benriach, Caperdonich and maybe others. The new owners of BenRiach are now bottling these casks as single malts.

I think that's an important point Karl. The new owners are not playing Laddie style games with peat. They just happened to be fortunate enough to inherit the stock from Chivas who I'm sure had no thoughts of such games when they made the whisky.

[les taylor]

And I'd far rather they didn't "finish", most of the time. Though there are exceptions, like the original Glenmo Port Wood

Nick You are so right. That Glenmo Port Wood was my wow moment when I knew single malts were for me.