BenRiach 12 Year Old Sherry Wood Matured Impressions

What is it? 

Distillery: BenRiach, Speyside, Scotland

Name: 12 Year Old Sherry Wood Matured

Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Extra Info: The BenRiach Distillery has closed twice in the past, the last time being in 2003 before being acquired by a private consortium in 2004. The BenRiach of today is very different to the BenRiach of pre-2003.

Why did I buy it?

This was the first 100% ex-sherry cask matured whisky that I bought. This means that all the whisky used in this expression of the BenRiach 12 Year Old has been matured exclusively in European oak casks that previously held either Oloroso or Pedro Ximenez sherry from the Jerez region of Spain. This will give a very different aroma and flavour profile to a whisky matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks or even whisky finished (from a few months to a few years) in ex-sherry casks.

What did I think of it?

Presentation: Bottled in a traditionally shaped clear glass bottle, the burgundy label screams out sherry. The white lettering and iconography with gold highlights looks good on the shelf but is perhaps a little conservative. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Appearance: Dark amber with almost a tinge of red, this whisky is both non-chill filtered and natural colour.

Aroma: Beautiful strong aromas of rich fruitcake and sweet dried fruits. Some chocolate, cream and coconut notes.

Flavour: Sweet and smooth, fruity, some honey, rising cinnamon and nutmeg spice.

Finish: Long, balanced, lingering spice.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, if you are a sherry fan then this is a fantastic whisky. If you don't like the rich, sweet and fruity character indicative of sherry influenced whisky then this isn't for you. There is zero smokiness. This is an excellent digestif or good friend for a cold winter night by the fire.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.