Benriach cask 7759 17 YO Triple Distilled PX Puncheon

A blind sample obtained in a trade with a fellow Canadian IG user. My first taste done blind I was then made aware of the contents, I had one more crack at it after that.

This is from the 2016 single cask series, I believe this was purchased at the LCBO, it was the series with the navy blue labels. Cask 7759 Triple distilled on 27/05/98 bottled May 2016 it was finished in a PX Sherry Puncheon, an outturn of 639 bottles at 47.2% ABV.

A couple of interesting points with this one, triple distilled which is rare for Scotland but this was in the era of Benriach pumping out all kinds of distillate for blending. PX sherry Puncheon, we don't see those often, most of what is sold PX seasoned for whisky producers are Hogsheads (often American Oak), Puncheons & Butts are usually reserved for Oloroso. That massive outturn of 639 bottles makes me scratch my head,it certainly means a bunch of refill/bourbon casks were vatted together for a quick finish, which Billy Walker was famous for, loads of those Glendronach/Benriach single cask put into what is a single cask. There was an interesting article on the My annoying Opinions blog about this. I also wonder if this is cask strength or reduced.

Nose: Sweet, tobacco, jujubes/powdered sugar. Armagnac/Cognac like notes, peach/muscat grapes, a overall freshness. Custard, brioche, faint vanilla notes. There's a kind of grape candy note on top like on top, PX? White Port? With time more dried fruit and sweet oak.

Palate: Apples, sultanas, then a kind of oily, inky feeling, cafe mocha, pralines, cooked banana paste. lovely grain notes, porridge, barley syrup.

Finish: Waffle cones, creamy confectionery notes, vanilla, a little cologne. A rising astringency slightly off-putting, the finish is really long, you can feel the richness on your palate sticking around.

Notes: My notes were about the same blind as not, so I went with the blind set. There's stuff to love here, at times it almost felt like Irish pot still whisky but the PX really steals the show. The finish isn't as heavy handed as some whisky (maybe due to the barrel size), I am not a fan of PX but this was pleasant if a bit sweet and it feels like the proof is higher closer to 50-55%.

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