The oldest Special Release 2024 is this Benrinnes 21 Year Old. Often priced over € 400, it is also the most expensive expression this year.
This Benrinnes aged in refill casks for 8 years, before a second maturation of 13 years in American and European oak wine casks and rejuvenated casks with charred ends. Quite a complex recipe.
Benrinnes 21 yo ‘Grand Crescendo’ (55,4%, OB Special Releases 2024, wine casks + rejuvenated casks)
Nose: fairly rich, the wine is easy to notice. It gives us strawberries and redcurrants, with darker hints of dried plums and raisins. Wine soaked pears. Then a little moss, along with black pepper and ginger, candied cherries and tobacco leaves. Mint and toffee notes. A slightly uncommon woody note too, like balsawood.
Mouth: initially sweet and caramelly, with baked apples, blackberries, melons and molasses. Then the charred layer comes out, with plenty of oak spice. Pepper, chilli heat, ginger and a light winey astringency. Cinnamon, grape pips and cocoa towards the end. Some hazelnut, and even a salty edge.
Finish: medium to long. Still a winey edge, with pepper, cinnamon and a light sourness.
The typical robustness of the spirit comes out on top, along with plenty of strong spices. All this intensity serves as a counterweight for the wine, I’d say, making this Benrinnes a nice malt, albeit seriously overpriced. Available from The Whisky Exchange, Royal Mile Whiskies and many others.