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
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- Longmorn 37 yo 1973 / 2011 Whisky Agency 58% vs Benriach 17 yo 1978 / 1995 Cadenhead 59.7%
- Clynelish Distiller’s Edition 1992 / 2007 Cl-Br:170-2g 46% Vs Clynelish 17 yo Managers Dram 61.8% ~ bottled 1998
- Bowmore 25 yo 1990 / 2015 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co #185076 53.7% vs Bowmore 21 yo 1995 / 2016 Master of Malt 54.7%
- Glendullan 12 yo Macdonald Greenlees 47% ~ Importato Da Ditta Manzuoli vs Glenfarclas 28 yo 1970 / 1999 Cadenhead 55.9%
- Linkwood 15 Gordon & Macphail 100 proof/57% vs Mortlach Gordon & Macphail 100 proof/57%
- Benrinnes 20 yo 1995 / 2016 Signatory #5894 49.6% vs Benrinnes 21 yo Special Release 2014 56.9%
- Balvenie 40 yo 48.5%
- Highland Park 20 yo 1996 / 2016 Cadenhead 50.6% vs Highland Park 1981 / 2005 Riegger’s Selection #6048 50.3%
- Longmorn 44 yo 1966 / 2011 The Dram Taker’s ‘Book of Kells’ Gordon & MacPhail for Limburg #281 43.1% vs Longmorn-Glenlivet 19 yo 1974 / 1993 Cadenhead 45%
- Clynelish 18 yo 1997 / 2016 Homage to Caledonia #6934 50.1% vs Clynelish 21 yo 1995 / 2017 Single Malts of Scotland #10203 55.9%
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