Carn Mor Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Benrinnes 2008 (8 year old) 46%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2008 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Apr 2016

A pleasant nose of dusty barley, rye-like herbs and no shortage of oak. The oak begins to really dominate the nose and it becomes sweeter and develops a vanilla custard note.

Slightly crisper and still quite herbal and still quite oaky to begin with. Slightly coffee’d, a little bitter and dry. The alcohol is a little intrusive as well. However once the creaminess of the oak subsides hints of baked fruit comes through. Good length, continuing herbal but a little dry and austere.

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Benrinnes 2008 (8 year old) 46%

First Fill Bourbon Hogshead (ex-Jim Beam)/ Dist: 2008 Btl: Feb 2017/ Tasted: Jan 2017

The aromas have first fill Bourbon stamped all over them. Big, buttery, toffee’d and fragrantly vanilla’d. Maybe there is a hint of barley, but the oak dominates.

The palate mirrors the nose. It’s basically oak city, although a touch of citrus and barley does force a way through the oak on the middle. Dry finish with a little rose petal marc, as the very young spirit finally appears.

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Benrinnes 2009 (9 year old) 46%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2009 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Jul 2018

The nose is ascetic and feinty with cereal, pepper and a touch of nascent honey, barley and oak, but it’s another one that’s been bottled far too early.

The palate is less ascetic, but lacking complexity. Hints of barley and honey, along with a shed load of tannins which really dry the mouth out. Short and alcoholic with raw honey and barley.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Benrinnes 1995 (21 year old) 54.9%

Bourbon Hogshead 7799/ Dist: Sept 1995 Btl: Aug 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017

Lovely aromas of dusty oak and edgy barley. Pleasantly clean and aromatic with hints of honey, vanilla and a gentle spiciness.

The palate is dense and rich, opening with the mature, dusty American oak with hints of honey, apricot and pear. Great depth and beautiful barley’d middle. Long with lingering vanilla, dusty spice and a subtle oak bitterness.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Benrinnes 1996 (21 year old) 57.2%

Bourbon Hogshead 11709/ Dist: Oct 1996 Btl: Sept 2018/ Tasted: Oct 2018

The nose is surprisingly closed and unyielding with a hint of barley, raspberry and strawberry jelly, vanilla and earth. With time it becomes very oaky and toffee’d.

The palate is soft, oaky and toffee’d with hints of barley, earth and coffee. It has a very grain-like middle and I suspect that the spirit is breaking down. Masked, alcoholic finish.

Water really shows up the cracks! Wool fat, and oily old alcohols. The oak has completely gone awol and the palate is flat and watery. Basically it’s as dead as a Dodo!

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Benrinnes 1995 (22 year old) 57.3%

Bourbon Hogshead 7808/ Dist: Sept 1995 Btl: Aug 2018/ Tasted: Aug 2018

The nose opens with mature, sawdusty oak and hints of butter, almond and spicy (nutmeg, ginger)tannins, followed by apricot, pear, pineapple, rhubarb and grass. It takes some time for the spirit character to emerge from the oak.

The palate is mature with dusty barley and oak and a touch of ginger. A wave of intense citrus brings mouth-watering white fruit and minerals leaving the oak in the background., but it does emerge on the finish with a pleasant spicy flourish.

Hunter Laing Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Advance Sample Benrinnes 2009 (8 year old) 50%

Rum Barrel/ Code: HL13862/ Dist: Jan 2009 Btl: Sept 2017/ Tasted: Feb 2019

A pungent, oily Guyana rum nose with a profusion of rummy dried fruit. In fact blind this would be mistaken for a rum, that’s how heavy the cask character is. There’s a subtle/ swamped barley and orange note. With time hints of roasted coffee.

The palate pretty much mirrors the nose. All Guyana rum and subtle agricole notes. Again there is a very subtle barley and coffee note on the middle but not enough to balance the rum character. Long but a little hot and spicy.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 2003 (14 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2782/ HL15032

Dist: Nov 2003 Btl: Apr 2018/ Tasted: Jun 2018

A fresh and almost salty nose  with lightly oiled lemon, honey, barley, gooseberry and pear. The oak is very subtle but adds a touch of vanilla.

The palate displays a touch more creamy oak and barley with hints of cereal, malt and coffee. Apricot, apple, gooseberry and lime notes mingle with the malt on the middle and the saltiness from the nose becomes apparent as well. Long with some granulated sugar notes balancing the citrus on the finish. Lovely balance and very appealing.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 1999 (15 year old) 50%

Refill Sherry Butt/ Code: OMC2435/ HL10891

Dist: July 1999 Btl: Oct 2014

A beautiful nose of dense, dusty barley and thick, herbal honey. The barley has a lovely sweetness and there are hints of fauna and herbs. With time hints of boiled sweets and perfumed flowers emerges.

The palate is full and robust. The honey liberally cotes the mouth. Dusty spices mingle with dusty oak and a touch of citrus comes through on the middle with a light herbaceousness. Wonderfully balanced and long with the citrus and mineral notes lingering along with that honey.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 1995 (19 year old) 50%

Bourbon Barrel/ Code: OMC2386/ HL10577

Dist: May 1995 Btl: June 2014/ Tasted: July 2014

A herbal and malty nose with bake fruit, succulent honey and a light sherbet dusting. Grainy rye-like spices emerge along with a slight floral note and some buttery oak. Quite sweet but fairly appealing nevertheless.

The palate is fuller than the nose suggests with malt, coffee soaked baked fruit and soft earthy (slightly musty) spice on the middle. Short and a little tart with a lightly coffee’d after-taste.

Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 1997 (19 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2626/ Dist: Oct 1997 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Mar 2017

The nose is a little hot and straw-like with white fruit, barley and hints of strawberry and raspberry boiled sweets. With time there’s even a decaying rose petal note. One gets the impression that this is a bit too old.

The palate opens with some pleasant white fruit, citrus, barley, sweet oak and sweet berry notes. The balance is better, but it still has a slight confected character. Hot and tart finish with a light chocolate-malt after-taste.

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Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2009 (6 year old) 46%

Sherry/ Quarter Cask Finished

Code: HEP0108/ Dist: Jan 2009 Btl: Sept 2015/ Tasted: Oct 2015

Quite an earthy and manure nose with plenty of sherried dried fruit, cinnamon and liquorice.

The palate is full and sherried with liquorice, dried plummy fruit and citrus. In fact the middle is very citric and cleansing but the treacly sherry returns along with a touch of burnt wood.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2009 (6 year old) 46%

Sherry/ Quarter Cask Finished

Dist: Jan 2009 Btl: Oct 2015/ Code: HEP0106/ Tasted: Nov 2015

Aromas of thick, herbal, treacly sherry with hints of smoke and citrus. Huge slabs of malt, prunes and walnuts with a light balsamic and creamy coffee note.

Soft and coffee’d on the palate with pruney, winey, thick and malty sherry. Hints of dark toffee and lightly bittering spice appears. Medium length with succulent orange notes amid the bitter, drying wood notes.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2009(?) (6 year old) 46%

Sherry/ Dist: 2009(?) Btl: Oct 2015/ Code: HEP0107/ Tasted: Nov 2015

A sulphur and brimstone nose with burnt earth and toffee. Hard and unyielding, lightly herbal with raisinated fruit.

The palate is hard and not quite as sulphured as the nose with raisinated fruit, prune and walnuts. Short, hot, sulphured, bitter finish.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2010 (7 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: HEP0266/ Dist: Feb 2010 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: July 2017

Aromatic barley, honey and sweet on the nose with a touch of citrus, herbs and an underlying mineral crispness. With time the white fruits taken on an Alsace-like quality.

The palate opens with granulated sugar coated white fruit and apricot. In fat it’s very sweet and sugary with sweet barley, sweet oak and more sweet fruit. The alcohol enhanced citrus and mineral notes come through on the middle and offset most of the sweetness and stays the same through the finish, although the granuated sugar notes creep back.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2009 (8 year old) 46%

Wine Finished/ Code: HEP0293/ Dist: Jan 2009 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Nov 2017

A dusty and chalky nose with barley and industrial notes. The creamy vanilla oak balances and with time hints of citrus and grass appear.

The palate displays hard barley, toffee, vanilla, earth and gritty tannins. Hard and industrial finish with lingering rough spice. The wine cask certainly has covered up the industrial character.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2002 (11 year old) 46%

Code: HEP0037/ Dist: Dec 2002 Btl: June 2014/ Tasted: July 2014

Sharp citrus aromas to begin with followed by grainy oak and a touch of macerated summer fruit and barley. With time the oak becomes quite fragrant and creamy.

The palate is light and oily with caramel, toasted toffee and hints of barley. Pleasant citrus twist on the finish.

Hunter Laing Hepburns Choice Benrinnes 2002 (11 year old) 46%

Sherry/ Code: HEP0008/ Dist: Dec 2002 Btl: ?/ Tasted: Sept 2015

Edgy herbal honey with boiled sweet sherry aromas. A touch of ‘Toshan-like rose Turkish delight appears along with some fragrant smoke. It becomes rather sweet with time.

The palate is earthy with a slight spritzy lemonade like character, which is a little odd. Slightly industrial with hints of barley and spice. Medium length with the industrial notes lingering with some Turkish delight attempting to soften.

Douglas McGibbon Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Benrinnes 2008 (8 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1171/ DL11072

Dist: Feb 2008 Btl: Mar 2016/ Tasted: May 2016

Initially quite high toned on the nose with hard barley. A touch of honey and green citrus attempt to balance but some ‘off the still’ oiliness begins to appear along with some cereal and malt biscuits.

The palate shows a better balance between the sweet honey and tart citrus. Hints of white fruit, grass comes through. A little short, hard and hot with lingering spice and youthful, spirit notes.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Benrinnes 2004 (11 year old) 46%

Refill Sherry Hogshead/ Code: PRV1136/ DMG10717

Dist: Mar 2004 Btl: Mar 2015/ Tasted: Apr 2015

An industrial and lightly cardboard nose with hints of barley.

The palate is softer and slightly citrusy with hints of nutmeg and earth. There is some cardboard notes in the background though and a touch of oily dried fruit on the finish, Short, slightly sweet after-taste.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Benrinnes 1998 (12 year old) 46%

Sherry Butt/ Code: PRV0776/ DMG7151

Dist Dec 1998 Btl: Jan 2012/ Tasted: Jan 2012

A slightly murky and industrial nose of spicy dried sherry fruit with a slight turpentine edge which in fairness does blow off. Late notes of roasted coffee and golden syrup. The palate is quite oily, yet sweet with spicy dried sherry fruit, but that turpentine note is ever present and sort of evolves into an old petroly Riesling like flavour. Maybe there is a touch of spice, honey and Armagnac-esque dried fruit. The palate is not as bad as the nose suggests, well, that’s as long as you like it a bit weird!

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Benrinnes 1998 (14 year old) 46%

Sherry/ Code: PRV0987/ DMG9632

Dist: Dec 1998 Btl: Apr 2013/ Tasted: May 2013

The nose is quite sweet and vanilla’d with fresh citrus notes and a light sherry wood richness. Quite pleasant with a touch of earthy spice.

The palate is soft and slightly nutty with a slight sherried sweetness. Pleasantly deep with hints of barley, citrus and coffee. Quite citric on the finish with a light spice and rose petal note.

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Benrinnes 1995 (18 year old) 46%

Sherry Butt/ Code: PRV0998/ DMG9765

Dist: 1995 Btl: June 2013/ Tasted: July 2013

Quite high toned, edgy aromas of earthy sherry with hints of coffee and treacle. Very manurey with time along with a developing, slight industrial character.

The palate is earthy and edgy with coffee, treacle and liquorice. The earthy sherried has a slight manuriness and it is a little hard and industrial (a la Dufftown) with a long coffee/ chocolate finish.

Wemyss Vintage Malts Benrinne Tasting Notes

Wemyss Malt Whisky ‘Ginger Compote’ (Benrinnes) 1996 (15 year old)

Bourbon/ Dist: 1996 Btl: 2011/ Tasted: July 2011

A lovely nose of crisp citrus. A classic Spey with some beautiful light honey and barley. Very concentrated and deep.  

Soft and a touch fuller on the palate with more oak character, but the citrus notes just about balance it out. Still quite deep and concentrated although a smidge less complex than the nose would suggest. A good length with a citrus thread running through the oak until the end. Good grassy after taste. 

Conclusion: A very pleasant dram, but the oak vanillins do mute the palate a bit, but aside from that very enjoyable.

Scott’s Selection Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Speyside Distillery Scott’s Selection Benrinnes 1979 (21 year old) 57.6%

Dist: 1979 Btl: 2000/ Tasted: Aug 2005

A clean, pungent nose of rich biscuits, earth and vanilla. Slightly winey with crisp malt and cereal along with a hint of orange fruit and granity hardness. Fairly light in body. Winey with earthy citrus fruit, coffee. Quite powerfully alcoholic leading into a touch of smoke and some oak on the middle.

A drop of water emphasises the slightly floral, slightly oily orange, whilst on the palate it brings out more spicy vanilla oak and gives the mouth feel a pleasant creaminess.

Ian MacLeod Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Ian MacLeod Dun Bheagen Benrinnies 10year old ‘Sauternes Finish’ 43%

Tasted: Sept 2007

The nose is clean, with a nice depth of re-fill sherry fruits and delicate butterscotch, orange and vanillaaromas. Straightforward and appealing. The palate is delicate and soft with quiet an oily character. Nice sherry spiced fruits and tobacco notes. Good length with a nice spicy finish. In conclusion it’s simple, straightforward and pleasant.

Hart Brothers Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Hart Brothers ‘Finest Collection’ Benrinnes 1979 (18 years old) 43%

Bourbon/ Dist: 1979 Btl: 1997/ Tasted: Feb 2003

A superb nose! Aromatic and fruity. Initially thearomasare of very spicy orange and tangerine citrus fruits with violet notes. Over time the Bourbon oak comes to the fore with its rich creamy vanilla oilaromas.

On the palate it has a lovely purity of fruity, spicy, Bourbon oaked fruits. This opens into a very intensely peppered middle, full of exotic mouth watering fruit (melon, white pear). Great length with the pepper noticeable throughout.

Douglas Laing Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing Old Particular Benrinnes 1999 (15 year old) 48.4%

Code: OLD0125/ DL10460

Dist: July 1999 Btl: Aug 2014/ Tasted: Sept 2014

Wow! That’s a hugely honeyed nose. Orange blossom and manuka honey and sweet, soft barley with hints of granulated sugar and creamy oak. A touch of citrus balances. Late hints of coffee and straw.

The palate is pleasantly soft with the creamy oak up first. The honey comes through slowly with sweet and crunchy barley and citrus. Lightly oiled and mouth-filling. Lovely, fresh grassy and citrus (lime and grapefruit) finish. Long and juicy with a touch of sweet spice in the after-taste.

Douglas Laing Old Particular Benrinnes 2003 (15 year old) 48.4%

Refill Sherry Butt/ Code: OLD0664/ DL12760

Dist: Sept 2003 Btl: Sept 2018/ Tasted: Oct 2018

Aromas of gritty, herbal Oloroso and coffee’d tannin. Hints of rose water, barley, pepper, raspberry and sweet cherry follow but the raw cask notes are very evident.

The palate follows the same theme – gritty, coffee’d Oloroso! Plenty of peppery spice, sultana, raisin, dried fig and prune. The mid palate is like chewing on splinters with a side order of citrus! Good length with loads of pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and a touch of rose water.

Douglas Laing Old Particular Benrinnes 2004 (15 year old) 48.4%

Sherry Butt/ Code: OLD0800/ DL13448

Dist: Jan 2004 Btl: Aug 2019

Dense, malty and herbal with barley and plenty of oxidised apples, which makes it, feel older. With time it becomes more aromatic and a subtle Cognac-esque rancio develops. Hints of gingery spice, beeswax, manuka honey and sweeter spice emerge.

The palate is dense, malty and herbal, opening with sweet-ish barley and honey. A little citrus and oxidised fruit follow along wityh mature wood and a touch of treacle on the middle. Long and remaining malty with late hints of citrus and fragrant barley. It’s a real mouth-filling dram!

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 1992 (19 year old) 50%

Sherry/ Code: OMC2051/ DL7232

Dist: Jan 1992 Btl: July 2011/ Tasted: July 2011

A dense and alcoholic nose of cream soda with hints of peppery marc. Almost industrial in character with light honey, burnt caramel and stony/ mineral notes.

Quite hard and confected. Again it has a sort of fizzy cream soda-like character with some butterscotch, honey and minerals. There is not much in the way of sherry influence and the finish is rather sugary.

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Douglas Laing Provenance Benrinnes 2008 (8 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1212/ DL11326

Dist: Feb 2008 Btl: Aug 2016/ Tasted: Dec 2016

Aromas of hard barley and volatile notes. Hints of caramel, nascent honey, plus a slight metallic twang.

Sharp citrus and hard barley on the palate with green apple, honey and toffee, but it still feels quite industrial. The honey sweetness the finish and a touch of white fruit appears.

Douglas Laing Provenance Benrinnes 2007 (10 year old) 46%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: PRV1326/ DL12021

Dist: Mar 2007 Btl: Aug 2017/ Tasted: Sept 2017

Aromas of subtly sweet barley, white fruit and custard powder.

Simple but pleasant enough on the palate with off-sweet white fruit, barley and a touch of oak. The sweetness builds on the middle but the alcohol counters. Good length with a touch of citrus in the finish.

Dewar Rattray Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Benrinnes 1996 (13 year old) 57%

Bourbon Cask 6835/ Dist: Nov 1990 Btl: Nov 2004/ Tasted: Dec 2005

Clean, quite a floral lowlandesque nose with citrus fruits, and grass, slightly spirity with nuts, creamy vanilla and a winey note. Dry on the palate opening with crisp, clean malt, grass and citrus fruits. The oakarrives on the middle and finishes with a lovely nutty finale.

A touch of water brings out anaromatic creamy lemon note along with hints of spice and salt. On the palate it sweetens it, giving depth to its delicate flavours. A lovely aperitif malt.

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Benrinnes 1990 (14 year old) 59.3%

Sherry Hogshead 6461/ Dist: 1996 Btl: 2009/ Tasted: Oct 2009

It’s a spotlessly clean and pure sherry monster! – But…… I really like it! (Shock!) Yes, it’s big and leafy but it has a relative complexity. There is some lovely orange fruit and crumbly decadent sherry wood spices, liquorice, dried fruit and coffee.

The palate is very much like the nose. A text book, clean sherry cask with dried fruit flavours – fig, prune, and sultana, by the bucket full. There is a touch of coastalness and the alcohol gives it a bite. It’s very drinkable! Personally I would drink neat as water makes the palate a little bit sticky-sweet.

Berry Bros Benrinnes Tasting Notes

Berry Bros & Rudd ‘Berrys’ Own Selection’ Benrinnes 1991 (16 year old) 46% 

Bourbon Cask 444/ Dist: 1991 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: Oct 2008

An extremely oily start. Pure cod liver oil, followed by grist, sawdust and orange fruit. It’s all rather fun as some citrus peel, conserve and honey is added to the mix. Over time it becomes quiet floral and grassy.

The palate displays a lovely honeyed character with layers of crystallised citrus fruit and vanilla ice cream. It’s woinderfully soft with hints of flowers and grass on the middle. The sweet vanilla returns and leaves hints of sugared almonds on the after taste. Very appealing.