BenRiach 1998 (cask #6394)

This is a triple distilled BenRiach 1998, finished in a Pedro Ximénez puncheon cask #6394. Part of the single casks batch 12.

BenRiach 17 yo 1998 (57,5%, OB 2015, PX puncheon #6394, 702 btl.)

Nose: plums and dried apricots, as well as sultanas and red berries. Some leather. Muscovado sugar and honey. A few matchsticks as well but rather clean. Tobacco and Mexican spiced chocolate. Fine so far, a fairly light and balanced nose.

Mouth: chocolaty and spicy again. Cloves, pepper, a bit hot overall. Then more plums and grapes, red apples and sultanas. Oranges. Fades very much on burnt sugar, leather and walnuts with a drying, tannic edge. Maybe a bit over the top here.

Finish: medium long, spicy and dry, with oak and caramel.

Good start, but it can’t hold the same level until the very end. Its character comes close to GlenDronach in some respects, but they achieve more intensity and a better balance. Around € 120.

Score: 84/100