BenRiach 11 Year Old 1994 Signatory Cask Strength

While this peated BenRiach is finished on port pipes, it has a full golden color from the bourbon cask. I presume it was a tired port cask.

Oh, the nose is just great. Peat first, followed by graphite, blackcurrants, double lait chocolate, lighter fluid for the BBA and, surprisingly, a salty tang. If I had tasted this blind, I might easily take this for an Islay. Like a sweet Caol Ila, for example. After a few moments, it gets fruity. It takes about ten minutes to recognize the distillery character. The smoke has evaporated somewhat and is replaced by toffee, mint, vanilla and yellow fruit. But where is the port wine?

The first sip is very smoky and razorsharp. Heavily peated BenRiach, wow. Now the port does play along, goes I am getting some blackcurrants. But the cask did not add much, I think. The peaty spirit is master. Midpalate, I get a hefty helping of salt, transporting me back to Islay.

The smoky finish, that lasts forever, leaves no doubt : peat all the way!

Well, I cannot say this is a good BenRiach, as there is hardly any BenRiach to be discovered. But having said that, it is a very nice, heavily peated whisky.

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