BenRiach 32 Year Old 1978 Virgin American Oak Finish

Today I am putting two similar BenRiach together, both with a Virgin American Oak finish, meaning they were first matured on ex-bourbon casks and then re-casked into new wood from the States. I started with a 22 Year Old from 1989 and put it head-to-head to this 32 Year Old from 1978. The first thing I notice is the 0,3% increase of ABV, which is mildly surprising since this whisky slepts for ten more years. Apparently this was not the angels’ cup of tea. The second think I notice is the dark, almost amber, color.

Strangely enough, despite the higher ABV, this one does not burn at all. It shows baked apples on cinnamon, but has a larger dose of spices and flowers. A lot of marzipan here. In short: all the same aromas (bar the banana) as the younger version, only more if you know what I mean. The nose is gently soft and round. Not as complex, but still more enchanting.

On the palate, it is again softer and rounder and a little less boisterous than the 10 year younger brother. It does show a slight bitterness, which the young one showed only in the finish. Not totally unexpected, of course. Spicy, sweet and slightly bitter thus drying towards the end. Water? Too late.

The finish is wonderfully long, but a touch too bitter to my taste.

The nose was slightly better, but on the palate and in the finish it loses some points, hence gets the same score as the 22 Year Old. But hey, this whisky stilled passed with flying colors, of course! Around 185 EUR.

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