Benriach is a single malt distillery in the North Speyside region of Scotland. It was built in 1898 on the site of the Riach farm, drawing water from the underground aquifer right underneath the distillery. The Original Ten uses three wood types: bourbon barrels, Sherry casks and what they call “virgin oak,” for maturation. A soft entry leads a to a more pronounced mid-palate finesse. There is noticeable orange zest, honeysuckle, caramel, browned butter toffee, with sweet notes of baked pears, white peach and nutmeg. The citrus notes are lightly mitigated by notes of resin and amber. All of this leads to a nice, somewhat lengthy finish. This is a solid Scotch, straddling a middle ground between typical citrus and more woody notes. It offers a pleasant viscosity, and though all the correct elements are there, it doesn’t break out with enough distinction. As an “everyday” Scotch it works well, though the price tag doesn’t exactly justify what’s in the glass. For someone looking for an introduction into Scotch this Speyside offering would be an excellent first look.
Reviewed by Michael Cervin.
Brand – Benriach
Spirit Type – Scotch
Other Designation – Single Malt
County of Origin – Scotland
ABV% – 43
Price – $55 (500 ml)
Score – 90 Points
Date Published – 6/30/21