Benriach 33 yo 1977 / 2011 #9119 45.7% for Asta Morris vs Benriach 35 yo 1976 / 2012 #8804 54.9%
I hadn’t realized my last review was posted exactly a month ago. I will blame it on work and other olfactory pursuits, with a generous dash of laziness plus maybe a bit of year end insouciance. Two 70s Benriach for consideration. These were of course released under the stewardship of Billy Walker, and it is always worth sampling casks like these which really raised Benriach’s profile circa 2010. Even today these bottles might still win the best bang for buck award in the old style fruity segment.
Benriach 33 yo 1977 / 2011 #9119 45.7% for Asta Morris
Evidently a plainly casked old glory, one where the spirit was allowed to shine. A trifecta of mellow age, flawless maturation and vibrant fruit, as only to be expected from these noble years at Benriach. We have fruit gums with flavours like berries and grapefruit, which starts sugary but ends up as tart. A bit of bubblegum, followed by green elements from tough bay leaf, perhaps some green hay. Pine and woody notes, and vanillic, but also a dark and sweetly resinous opoponax. Overall it is unfortunately a little less stellar, just simpler and with less verve than the other famous Asta Morris Benriach. Still 89 pts
Benriach 35 yo 1976 / 2012 #8804 54.9%
It’s peated but just so, More smoke in the wind than scorched earth really. So, gossamer smoke of thin incense, burnt peanut shells and driftwood on a calm beach. A reedy thin peat that parts readily to a nugget of joyous green and yellow fruit within, whence its true glory lies. Acerbic juice and citrus overtones. Somewhere between that are tendrils of green celery and eucalyptus leaf, which might or might not be grass depending on the light. This reminds me of a 91 peated Irish in many ways. 90 pts
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