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#131: BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 2

Writer's picture: S&PS&P

André, Simon's father, making an appearance tonight on S&P. Cask Strength whiskies have done well with us, so we're looking forward to this. Also the first BenRiach we get to try. Another distillery crossed off! Well... maybe you shouldn't cross off a distillery until you've had at least a handful of their whiskies in different barrels and ages.


BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 2. Speyside. 60.6% ABV. $120 CAD. No age statement. Blend of three cask types: ex-bourbon, virgin oak hogshead, and Oloroso sherry.


We sniff around:


Kyle starts us off with caramel. Maybe a dried apricot/prune.


Simon agrees. Gets a solid whiff of cinammon too. Peaches.


André gets a fresh river smell.


Scott gets pear, bourbony notes, and a little banana as well once we get into a few sips.


Everyone gets some apples in the background. The nose is supprisingly smooth for the high proof.


Trevor pulls some liquorish.


We cheers.


You can't smell the 60% but you can taste it.


Simon gets a big cinammon. Like cinammon challenge. Cinammon bomb. Little sweetness, more on the peachy apricotty side.


Sean gets a solid burn. Reminds him of the Glenrothes 12 we did a while back but ramped up. Sticky sweet, really gets the sherry influence.


Scott is finding the bourbon notes more prominent. Cherry cough syrup finish. Sour. Malty. Spicy. Tingly mouth feel.


André gets peppermint.


Trevor likes the peppermint note on the finish. He gets a cherry too. Solid jab to the face.


Reviews: Simon's pick. He likes it. It's not as well rounded as some other young cask strengths. It's fun it's punchy, but it's a little wild. Probably would not pick up another bottle but still, 78. Trevor says there's a few cool things going on. It's got a decent amount to dig in. It's punchy but it hits you nicely. Goes 82. Kyle is not a big fan of cinammon but this one does it nicely. Lots of complimentary notes. He's enjoying it but not something he'll look for a bottle of. Lands of 75. Sean goes 80. He likes the sherry influence here, he likes the punchiness, and if he sees this on sale, he might pull the trigger. André pins this at 82. He likes that initially, it's punchy, but on the finish, it's cozy. Nice feel. Scott rounds it up with 73. Averages out to 78.3.


Overall: This is fun, punchy, and complex, but there's just something not very rouded about it and it's a little brash. We like how the different barrels all have representation in the flavor profile. It's fair value but I don't know that any of us will end up with another bottle. Not something we'd recommend but it does rate fairly well so if you like the tasting notes, go for it.


Cheers!

The S&P Crew.

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