Benriach Distillery announces the arrival of the Benriach Cask Edition, the first single cask single malt Scotch whisky bottlings ever available in the US from the distillery.
Continuing Benriach’s creative legacy, each of the three expressions exclusive to the US have been drawn from individual casks selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie to offer a rare and unique insight into the versatility of Benriach’s eclectic cask styles.
Limited to a few hundred bottles per cask, each whisky is bottled at cask strength, its most natural and non-diluted form, providing an unadulterated glimpse into the spirit of the Benriach Distillery. Age statements range from 12 to 27 years old.
“Our ‘sleeping beauties’, as we often call these casks, continue to be sourced from all over the world, enabling us to creatively explore the full flavor possibilities of Speyside Single Malt,” said Master Blender Rachel Barrie.
“Each cask will tell its own story of a journey of flavor where the spirit is married with oak, over years and through the seasons, to really create a unique moment in time never to be repeated again.”
“From the Marsala Wine Hogshead cask bringing out clementine, apricot, nectarine and cherry blossom flavors, to the Pedro Ximénez Puncheon with intense notes of heather honey, butterscotch and sultana, each cask allows us to explore a different aspect of Benriach’s fruit-laden character,” Barrie said.
For the first time ever, each of the three expressions have been released to select markets across the country. Depending on the expression, the ABV ranges from 55.4% to 58.2%, while SRP ranges from $100 to $380. Each bottle draws its natural color from the cask in which it rests.
2009 (12 Year) – Cask #3812: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
58.2% ABV, $100 suggested retail price (700ml)
Tasting Notes
Color: Antique gold
Nose: Toasted raisin brioche, with layers of butter, sultana and orange marmalade
Palate: Heather honey, butterscotch and lemon curd on sultana and hazelnut bread
1998 (23 Year) – Cask #10297: Marsala
55.4% ABV, $330 suggested retail price (700ml)
Tasting Notes
Color: Polished brass
Nose: Clementine, apricot, nectarine and cherry blossom, with maple and vanilla syrup
Palate: Orange and honey glazed chocolate cake with apricot and redcurrant jelly
1997 (24 Year) – Cask #15058: Oloroso Puncheon
55.4% ABV, $380 suggested retail price (700ml)
Tasting Notes
Color: Mahogany
Nose: Crème brûlée with hazelnut and toasted vanilla on a base of cedarwood, spiced apple and mocha
Palate: Chocolate orange and hazelnut cake with raisins, dried apple, apricot and sultana