Whisky Review/Tasting: Benrinnes 15 years McGibbons Provenance
Physical Whisky Characteristics
- Origin: Benrinnes Distillery, Scotland.
- Type: Single malt Scotch whisky.
- Distillation and Maturation: Distilled in winter 1998 and bottled in spring 2013, aged for 14 years in a sherry cask. The cask was either a non-oxidized sherry (Fino) or a refill sherry cask.
- Age Statement: 14 years.
- Color and Clarity: Golden amber, which is quite light for a whisky aged in a sherry cask for 14 years.
- Bottle Design: The bottle is from McGibbons Provenance, a small independent bottler based in Glasgow. The label provides tasting notes from the proprietor, emphasizing the non-colored, non-chill filtered nature of the whisky at 46% ABV.
Whisky Flavor Profile
- Nose: Citric, vanilla, and cedarwood, warming to toasted oats.
- Palate: A big, round cherry mouthful with light oak, toffee, and soft camphor flavors.
- Finish: Sweetly spiced, carrying a herbal quality to its malty character.
- Balance of Flavors: The whisky presents a complex balance of sweet, spicy, and malty flavors, with a notable absence of smoke or peatiness. The oak bitterness is slight and fades quickly, leaving a sweet, spicy, and lightly malty aftertaste.
Whisky Storytelling
- Independent Bottling: McGibbons Provenance is highlighted as a small, Glasgow-based independent bottler, offering a rare opportunity to taste a Benrinnes due to the limited official bottlings available.
- Unique Characteristics: The whisky's light color for its age and cask type suggests unique maturation conditions, possibly involving a Fino sherry cask or a refill cask.
Cultural or Geographical Significance
- Scarcity of Official Bottlings: Benrinnes is noted for its scarcity in official bottlings, with a mention of a very old 23-year-old official bottling from a sherry cask. This scarcity adds to the cultural and collectible value of the whisky.
Expert Opinions and Noteworthy Quotes
- "A light citrus note and then the cedar wood... the typical taste of a soft wood."
- "The fruitiness is more from the distillery character... spiciness is coming up very strong."
- "Benrinnes would be worth to have original bottling of this quality."
Summary
- Benrinnes 15 years McGibbons Provenance is a single malt Scotch whisky, aged for 14 years in a sherry cask, presenting a golden amber color.
- The flavor profile includes citric, vanilla, cedarwood, toasted oats, cherry, light oak, toffee, soft camphor, and a sweetly spiced finish.
- The whisky is from a small independent bottler in Glasgow, offering a rare tasting opportunity due to limited official bottlings of Benrinnes.
- The whisky is appreciated for its complex balance of flavors, with a notable absence of smoke or peatiness, and a slight, quickly fading oak bitterness.
- The scarcity of official Benrinnes bottlings adds to the cultural and collectible value of this whisky.
Recommendations for Different User Profiles
- Whisky Collectors: Due to its rarity and the limited availability of Benrinnes bottlings, this whisky would appeal to collectors seeking unique or hard-to-find expressions.
- Fans of Lighter Sherry-Cask Whiskies: Individuals who appreciate the nuanced flavors that come from sherry cask maturation without the heavy influence of oxidized sherry would find this whisky particularly enjoyable.
- Connoisseurs Interested in Distillery Character: Those who value the intrinsic character of the distillery's spirit, showcased through a complex balance of fruitiness and spiciness, would appreciate this expression.