Benrinnes 21 Year Old 1995 Signatory for The Nectar

Belgian importer The Nectar regularly selects beautiful single casks. This is one of those from the lesser known Speysider Benrinnes, which appeared in Signatory’s Un-Chillfiltered series, but at cask strength.

Oh! Yes! This nose is classic Benrinnes (very fruity, medium sweet, mildly drying oak), but with benefits in the guise of pencil shavings, parafine, the skin of sweet apples and a double dose of vanilla. Crème brülée and fresh peach. Mandarin and flowery honey with a hint of light brown sugar in the back. This is almost complex.

Nice mouthfeel. Despite the cask strength, it arrives very softly. A touch peppery, sure, and waxy – the oak is doing a great job here – but at the same time nicely fruity and sweet. Camphor, liquiorice, white pepper goes hand in glove with apples, mandarin and a lost gooseberry. Summery!

The malt lingers very long and make me long for another one.

It is no coincidence that Mario and his team selected this cask. Top dram from this workhorse at the foot of the Ben Rinnes mountain.

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