Benrinnes 20 yo 1995 / 2016 Signatory #5894 49.6% vs Benrinnes 21 yo Special Release 2014 56.9%

Benrinnes 20 yo 1995 / 2016 Signatory #5894 49.6%

This house believe that Benrinnes significantly improved in the 90s. Sunny yellow hues of sweet honey, baked shortcrust, yellow stonefruit, tinned pineapples and golden syrup. Nary a hint of sulfur or burnt notes on the nose, though this does reveals itself on the palate in a most pleasing textural manner with wispy smoke and scalded butter which gives a heaviness, lending weight and indomitable presence to the palate. 88 pts

Benrinnes 21 yo Special Release 2014 56.9%

I remember the monster that was the first release, and this successor is far less massive but with a better rounded sherry methinks. There is no getting round the charred character of these Benrinnes, though that may have been the blender’s selection. So blackened meat in a roasting pan of burnt sauce.  Significant wood as well, with plenty of black tea, savoury spices, oyster sauce, smoking wood, but also roasted berry jam and ganache. Chewed pencils, and an unfortunate trace of rubber. 86 pts