Benriach Launches Its 2021 Single Cask Collection

The Benriach Distillery has released its latest batch of single cask whiskies, from its 2021 Cask Edition Collection. The 2021 collection includes 19 single malt Scotch whiskies, which have been matured in 11 different cask types, including Bourbon barrels, Oloroso Sherry butts, Pedro Ximénez puncheons, Rum barrels, Port pipes and Moscatel hogsheads. These single cask whiskies, which were distilled between 1994 to 2009, were individually selected at the best maturation point by Benriach’s Master Blender, Rachel Barrie.

Ruggedly beautiful, Benriach stands on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer, deep beneath the distillery. It was founded in 1898 by John Duff, and has a long-standing tradition of distilling three styles of whisky; classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled. Between these spirit types, together with a broad selection of casks from around the world, Benriach’s whisky makers are able to explore the full flavour possibilities of Single Malt, creating rich, multi-layered Speyside whiskies.

Each of the new Benriach Cask Edition Collection 2021 whiskies, will be released in a select number of international markets. The two oldest 26 Year Old expressions distilled in 1994 and matured in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon and a Oloroso butt, will be exclusive to China. The full collection is made up of:

 

1994 CASK #1851

• Aged 26 years
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 51.5%
• Appearance: Golden Brown
• Nose: Chocolate orange and smoked dark honey, on a base of sandalwood, date oil and prune.
• Palate: Chocolate espresso and black cherry with lingering campfire smoke and plum.
• Availability: China 

 

1994 CASK #1272

• Aged 26 years 
• Cask Type: Oloroso Butt
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 53.2%
• Appearance: Auburn
• Nose: Sticky plum preserve and baked crème brûlée with smouldering pine nut and rich campfire smoke.
• Palate: Blood orange, cherry cake and candied clove with lingering smoked caramel and pine nut.
• Availability: China

 

1997 CASK #16004

• Aged 23 years 
• Cask Type: Bourbon Barrel
• Style: Classic unpeated
• ABV: 51.1%
• Appearance: Mellow gold
• Nose: Candied lemon, bergamot and dark vanilla with traces of honeysuckle, apple and lime.
• Palate: Lemon sweets and toffee with spiced vanilla, banana and lingering dark chocolate mint cake.
• Availability: Israel

 

1998 CASK #2803

• Aged 22 years 
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 52.7%
• Appearance: Deep amber
• Nose: Sticky toffee apple and caramel sponge pudding layered with cherry cake and sugar glaze.
• Palate: Cherry and sultana bread with vanilla, candied peel and golden syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Availability: South East Asia

 

2005 CASK #2569

• Aged 15 years 
• Cask Type: Oloroso Butt
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 59.8%
• Appearance: Arabian sunset
• Nose: Richly sherried with fruitcake, honey, orange and crème brûlée.
• Palate: Chocolate meringue, toasted hazelnut and lingering sun-dried raisin.
• Availability: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark & Ukraine

 

2006 CASK #5303

• Aged 13 years 
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Classic unpeated
• ABV: 61.2%
• Appearance: Mahogany
• Nose: Nectarine, cherry cake and caramel mocha with hints of baked apple and spice.
• Palate: Chocolate macchiato and baked orange with lingering sweet almond.
• Availability: Australia

 

2007 CASK #8736

• Aged 13 years 
• Cask Type: Moscatel Hogshead
• Style: Classic unpeated
• ABV: 58.1%
• Appearance: Egyptian gold
• Nose: Apricot and lemon syrup, with macadamia nut brittle and manuka honey.
• Palate: Vanilla cream and sticky apricot preserve with lingering honeyed orchard fruits and praline.
• Availability: New Zealand

 

2008 CASK #5813

• Aged 12 years 
• Cask Type: Sauternes Barrique 
• Style: Classic unpeated
• ABV: 61.3%
• Appearance: Red gold 
• Nose: Honey, apricot and stewed plum, with fleshy orange, mixed nut and tropical fruit.
• Palate: Sweet mandarin orange, lemon curd and ground nutmeg with lingering ginger and toasted malt.
• Availability: Canada

 

2008 CASK #2014

• Aged 12 years 
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 60.5%
• Appearance: Golden walnut
• Nose: Chocolate coated red apple, plum and redcurrant on a base of pistachio, sandalwood and espresso.
• Palate: Smooth fig and apple with cinnamon spice, pistachio cream and chocolate coated dates.
• Availability: China / South East Asia

 

1997 CASK #7420

• Aged: 23 years
• Cask Type: Virgin Wood Barrel
• Style: Classic unpeated
• ABV: 51.6%
• Appearance: Chestnut gold
• Nose: Sweet candied orange and almond biscotti with banana, toffee and cream pie.
• Palate: Candied citrus and spiced apple with liquorice root, caramel and sweet oak vanilla.
• Availability: France & Belgium

 

1998 CASK #10298

• Aged: 22 years
• Cask Type: Marsala Wine Hogshead
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 52.2%
• Appearance: Burnished copper
• Nose: Baked pear, apricot jam and clementine, with soft sweet spices and sugar fondant.
• Palate: Caramelised apricot, tangy orange and hazelnut, layered with vanilla icing and ground nutmeg.
• Availability: Italy

 

2005 CASK #1867

• Aged: 15 years
• Cask Type: Rum Barrel
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 55.9%
• Appearance: Honeyed gold 
• Nose: Candied apple, tropical fruit and pineapple syrup, enriched with smooth barley cream.
• Palate: Golden fruit, soft spices and crème caramel, with lingering maple syrup and nut brittle.
• Availability: Benriach Distillery Visitor Centre, Scotland

 

2007 CASK #3944

• Aged: 13 years
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 56.2%
• Appearance: Polished gold 
• Nose: Smoked apricot and silky milk chocolate with seared mandarin orange glaze
• Palate: Smoked Brazil nut and walnut, balanced with sweet floral honey and chocolate cream.
• Availability: France 

 

2008 CASK #4052

• Aged: 12 years
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 60.5% 
• Appearance: Burnished brass
• Nose: Smoked stone fruit with cedar wood, with maple syrup and custard.
• Palate: Sweet peat, smoked gingerbread and cinnamon spiced plum with hazelnut, baked apple and almond.
• Availability: Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Malta & Poland

 

2009 CASK #4833

• Aged: 11 years
• Cask Type: Port Pipe
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 60.8%
• Appearance: Ruby
• Nose: Honeyed fruit syrup, smoked strawberry panna cotta and vanilla cheesecake.
• Palate: Chocolate velvet cake balanced with wild berry, spiced orange, red apple and angelica root.
• Availability: United Kingdom

 

2009 CASK #1642

• Aged: 11 years
• Cask Type: Madeira Hogshead
• Style: Peated
• ABV: 60.6%
• Appearance: Rich gold
• Nose: Smoke-laced melon and jellied fruit with honeycomb, aromatic coffee and sugared malt.
• Palate: Smoked nutmeg, burnt orange and macadamia nut with cinnamon, pepper and lingering wintergreen.
• Availability: Andorra, Poland and Portugal

 

2009 CASK #8562

• Aged: 11 years
• Cask Type: Oloroso Puncheon
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 58.9%
• Appearance: Burnt sienna
• Nose: Toffee apple crunch and mixed nut brittle with pecan, almond and mixed spice.
• Palate: Baked apple strudel with layers of bramley apple, brown sugar, cinnamon and raisin.
• Availability: Nordics & East Europe

 

2009 CASK #8748

• Aged: 11 years
• Cask Type: Moscatel Hogshead
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 53.9%
• Appearance: Deep copper
• Nose: Heather honey, apricot and sweet orange marmalade with hazelnut in golden syrup.
• Palate: Deliciously sweet and fruity with honey, apricot and lingering pecan syrup.
• Availability: The Netherlands

 

2009 CASK #3911

• Aged: 11 years
• Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
• Style: Classic unpeated 
• ABV: 56.5%
• Appearance: Copper
• Nose: Crème-caramel and fresh orange with rich malt and candied vanilla.
• Palate: Mulled orange and chocolate caramel with brown sugar and chestnut cream.
• Availability: Germany, Austria & Switzerland

 

Commenting on the collection’s launch, Rachel Barrie, said: “When it comes to experimenting with flavour through our rich inventory of cask types at Benriach, it is important to appreciate the individuality of the cask and its back story to tease out its full potential. Benriach Cask Edition Collection 2021 offers an insight into this journey, capturing unique moments in time at our Speyside distillery. Exploring cask maturation at this specific level continues to excite me about the flavour possibilities of Benriach. From the honey, apricot and stewed plum of the sauternes barrique to the smooth barley cream of the rum barrel, it’s a true joy to savour the palette of flavour in these cask edition releases.”

The Benriach Cask Edition Collection 2021, will be available later in march with RRP’s ranging from around £60 to £460.