BenRiach 25 year old, the oldest expression in the flagship range, is aged in a combination of spirit from bourbon casks, virgin oak casks and spirit finished in Oloroso casks.
I’m not quite sure but I believe this version at 46,8% ABV was first introduced in 2014 (coming from 50%). Mind that there’s also a peated 25 but this is the classic unpeated style.
BenRiach 25 yo
(46,8%, OB +/- 2017)
BenRiach 25 yoNose: starts on light, almost ethereal fruity notes (peaches, yellow apples) with honey, all covered in a fragrant oakiness, including light glue, menthol and hints of potpourri. Vanilla cream. Leather and tobacco. Rose pepper and nutmeg.
Mouth: some fruity notes again (yellow plums, peaches, oranges) but again some green oak and spices as well. Walnut cake. Pepper, leathery notes. Darker chocolate notes towards the end. Spearmint and herbal notes.
Finish: sweet and spicy, fairly long. Traces of fruit tea and liquorice. Gradually drier.
Not bad at all, just not my favourite style. The typical BenRiach fruitiness is there, but the highly aromatic (virgin) oak clashes a little and make it feel younger than it is. Available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange among others.
Score: 85/100