I brought some leftovers from the BenRiach 1976 tasting. I’ll make proper notes of some of the highlights, the rest will probably be blended into a kind of 1976 super blend. Here’s the overall winner, BenRiach 1976 cask #3033 bottled for the Taiwanese maket.
BenRiach 34 yo 1976 (48,2%, OB for Taiwan 2011, cask #3033, 216 btl.)
Nose: a quintessential BenRiach 1976, with a luscious tropical fruitiness. Among others: mango, guava, passion fruit, lychee, tangerine… a very aromatic fruit basket. Some lokum and rosehip syrup. Nice oily notes (coconut oil, beeswax). Honey. A distinct creaminess as well, like strawberries with cream. Some spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) which make it less summery than cask #3029 (Shinanoya) for example, but add more depth and vibrance. Develops perfect mint over time.
Mouth: again deeply fruity, with similar aromas. Mango, pineapple, tangerine, big notes of pink grapefruit with honey. Perfect balance of warm, vanilla fruits and greener, fresher citrusy notes. All this with a veil of polished oak and spices. Very interwoven, smooth and delicate on the outside but full of sparkles and tiny nuances further down. Some chocolate and nutty notes towards the end, hints of toffee, what a nice evolution.
Finish: very long, creamy and jammy with a light herbal edge and oily mint.
A deserved winner at the BenRiach 1976 single cask tasting. This is probably the best we’ll ever see from this particular distillery and legendary vintage. Too bad they were shipped so far away.
Score: 94/100