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
Whiskyrific RSS
- Talisker 16 yo 1979 / 1995 Cadenhead 62.8% vs Talisker 13 yo 1979 James MacArthur’s 64.9%
- Bowmore 36 yo 1969 / 2006 Duncan Taylor #6090 44% vs Bowmore 16 yo 1984 / 2000 Samaroli #61930 45%
- Longmorn 1972 / 2005 Munchner Whisky-Festival 57.3% vs Longmorn 1973 / 2011 Gordon & Macphail #3228 for Whiskyfair Limburg 58%
- Milroy’s trio: Clynelish 23 yo 1997 / 2021 Milroy’s #12359 53.3% vs Ben Nevis 25 yo 1996 / 2021 Milroy’s #20 47.6% vs Springbank 28 yo 1992 / 2021 Milroy’s #185 50.9%
- Ardbeg ‘Over 10 years old’ for Scoma by Cadenhead 58.5%
- Glen Elgin 25 yo 1995 / 2021 Signatory #3270 52.3% vs Glen Elgin 12 yo 2008 / 2020 The Whisky Exchange #805343 55.8%
- Craigellachie 23 yo 1989 / 2014 SMWS 44.59 ‘Lime marinated grilled chicken’ 51.4% vs Teaninich 21 yo 1999 / 2021 Maltbarn 48.8%
- Oban 24 yo 1989 / 2013 #748 47.8% vs Oban 12 yo Special Release 2021 56.2%
- Bruichladdich 21 yo 1964 / 1986 Intertrade 51.8% vs Bruichladdich 15 yo 1969 / 1985 Intertrade 54%
- Scapa 16 yo 1980 / 1996 Signatory #12085-86 43% vs Highland Park 27 yo 1984 / 2011 Whisky Agency 52.5%
whiskyrific 