Whisky Review/Tasting: The Benriach 1996 Pedro Ximenez Finish

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: The Benriach Distillery, Scotland.
Type: Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation and Maturation: Distilled in 1996, aged for 18 years, and finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Punchon casks. Bottled in June 2014.
Age Statement: 18 years.
ABV: 54.6%.
Color: Dark amber.
Clarity: Uncolored and unchill-filtered.
Bottle Design: Limited release, bottle number 624 of 626.
Cask Size: Punchon, which is smaller than a Sherry Butt, allowing for a faster maturation due to a relatively larger inner surface area per liter of content.

Palette: Rich in heather honey, resins, dates, crisp lime zest, warm peppery oak spices, golden sultanas, stem ginger, ripe yellow plums, and rock candies.
Balance: A perfect balance of sweetness, fruitiness, and spiciness with a notable depth of flavors.
Unique Characteristics: The smaller cask size and the Pedro Ximenez Sherry finish contribute to a complex and mouth-coating flavor profile, with a significant influence of sherry overtones.

Anecdotes: Horst Luening, the master taster, shares his personal experience with Pedro Ximenez Sherry, noting its sweet, heavy, and mouth-coating characteristics, which are integrated into the whisky through the finishing process.

The use of Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks for finishing highlights the cultural exchange between Scotland and Spain in whisky production, enhancing the whisky's complexity and flavor profile.

"This single cask Benriach Pedro Ximénez finish was the best." - Horst Luening
Luening compares this whisky to others he has tasted, including those finished in Tawny Port and Sherry casks, and finds this to be one of the very best.

The Benriach 1996 Pedro Ximenez Finish is an 18-year-old single cask Scotch whisky, finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.
It features a rich and complex flavor profile with a perfect balance of sweetness, fruitiness, and spiciness.
The whisky is noted for its dark amber color, uncolored and unchill-filtered clarity, and limited release status.
Expert opinions highlight the exceptional balance and depth of flavors, with special praise for the Pedro Ximenez Sherry influence.

For the Connoisseur: The complexity and depth of flavors, along with the unique Pedro Ximenez finish, make this whisky a must-try.
For the Adventurous Drinker: Those looking to explore the influence of different cask finishes on whisky will find this expression particularly intriguing.
For the Collector: The limited release status and the unique single cask bottling make this a valuable addition to any collection.