Here’s another BenRiach from the 12th batch of single casks, bottled in June 2015. Cask 4936 was filled in 1990 with spirit in the classic Speyside style, until being bottled after 25 years.
BenRiach 25 yo 1990
(50,4%, OB 2015, 196 btl.)
Nose: bright and fresh. Some garden fruits (pear, apricots) but rather shy, definitely not a fruit bomb. Hints of chalk and plenty of active oak. Quite some floral notes too, which makes it a rather fragrant BenRiach.
Mouth: same feeling of mellow fruits (apple, grapefruit). Some barley sugars and slightly green, plankish oak. Vanilla and ginseng. Even a tad soapy around the edges, must be the combination of zesty lemon and oak shavings.
Finish: medium long, still slightly zesty and gingery, with a light, bittersweet end.
I expected more of this one. I’ve had younger and older examples that were much fruitier and rounder, maybe I’m just not a fan of this era’s style. Around € 200.
Score: 83/100