The Spirit of Art Benrinnes 2009 (10 year old) 55.5%
Bourbon Hogshead 306652/ Dist: 2009 Btl: Feb 2020/ Tasted: Aug 2020
The nose is high toned, grassy and citric with quite a pronounced alcohol prickle. With time it becomes very grassy with hints of oily barley, toffee, toasted oak and creamy vanilla.
Quite tight on the palate with barley and a touch of toffee. Dense and subtly fruity with a grassy middle. The alcohol masks the finish but it does show a touch of white liquorice and charred oak. It really needs some water.
A drop of water brings out more of the barley character of the spirit on the nose, it also releases the lovely estery white fruit, apricot and hints of liquorice root and anise. There’s less oak character and less grass now. The palate is oilier and softer. Still dense and barley’d and like the nose less grassy. There’s more of a minerality noticeable now though and some citrus on the middle. Longer, fruitier finish with a touch of pepper. A little dry on the after-taste.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 