Benrinnes

The sherryish nose is pleasantly complex. In the palate, some malted after taste, mixed with sherry hints goes though quantity of tastes, amongst which a kind of prunes jam (quetsch). A rather pleasant and complex bottle. The finish is too short, according to me, and reveals the same cooked prune hints on a slightly perfumed malted background. A very nice bottle.

A nicely balanced nose, where sherry tops the bill along beside fruit (prune) fragrances and something I cannot define precisely, but which adds complexity and pleasure to this whisky. In the palate, a very nice complexity where a rather strong prune taste is present, with hints of malt on the background, in a whole clearly marked by sherry. A nice lingering finish, where quetsche is very present.

The nose is clear and a nice smell of ripe prunes, macerated in sherry dominates some fresh leather hints. In the palate, some nice fruity notes, ripe prunes and slightly acid touches. A very nice finish, marked by sherry, and this prune impression is still present. A very nice bottle.

The nose hesitates between not ripe fruits and hints of yeast. Not very engaging first. After a while, the fruity side overcomes slowly.
The mouth is just interesting, no more. No complexity, no real pleasure. Fruity noes, both acid and tasteless.
The finish is rather long but does not leave a great memory behind neither.
This bottle has been opened for quite a long time. This explains probably the contrast of this notes with the previous ones...

The smell of gingerbread, malt, a little toast, a hint of sherry. A very slight tingling in my face, but not surprising given the level of alcohol. (this is not tasting blind ...). Cinnamon and cloves. All perfectly cast. Nice balance and good complexity. On the palate, first a certain bitterness and great gentleness. Slightly acid notes follow. All in a nice balance. These notes of sweet spices are still present. Excellent impression. A nice finish too. Long and warm, with the same notes slightly spicy and always this mix of acidity and bitterness. A great surprise. Tasting made in Highlander Inn.

The nose develops some strange but rather pleasant mix of earth and meat juice. Something between wood and sherry, not easy to describe, but not unique to this bottle. In the palate, a nice complexity, with clear woody fragrances, nut and chocolate and some clear malty notes. Quite a nice finish as well, recalling the nutty tones.

A strong smell of malt and yeast overruns the nose. No complexity first. Stable and wet hay hints...
The mouth seems slightly more complex, with this touch of acid which comes above the malt and yeast notes. But further, not so much pleasure in the palate.
The finish is of medium length, still dominated by those malty notes and those rather unpleasant hints of yeast...

Color: Gold
The smell of yeast, which reminds me that the smell of insecticide powder that was used during my childhood to destroy the nests of ants, is really unpleasant to me. Probably it comes from the process of triple distillation. But it is really difficult for me to appreciate it. Beyond the first impression, malt notes and undergrowth complete the picture.
The mouth is nicer. Some complexity and perhaps a slight regret ... the alcohol could be slightly higher, which would probably have this whisky to express better its potential. Nice malt notes.
The finish is long and extends the mouth. Pity that this nose is so unattractive ...

A nose where acid hints mix with meat smells combined to cut grass on a background of plum jam. In the mouth, some flatness enhanced by some acid hints developing on malt and then a kind of metallic taste. Quite a strange feeling emerging from this whisky. A rather long finish, but without clear dominant feelings, but the memory of a drank whisky hanging. It deserves certainly another tasting, as it seems to need some more time to reveal all its qualities.

A very amazing nose, between the malt and the plastic smell of inflatable baloons. Some smoke on the background as well. The special and not really inviting nose is completely in contradiction with the palate, extraordinary complex, with nice citrus fruit notes, hints of haddock or hering, while the malty ansd smoky notes remain on the background together with the plastic sensation described earlier. Anyway, a very particular whisky, excellent, but with few in common with more "usual" whiskies. The finish is on the same register as the mouth was, long with hints somewhere between acidity and smoke, rubber and malt. In short, far from an usual bottle, but this for the greatest pleasure of the papilla's.

Malt and citrus fruits at the first nose, developing quickly on pleasant fruity notes with just a touch of smoke. In the palate, quite an acid impression developing slowly on sweeter notes without losing this touch of smoke. The mouth is very interesting, even if it is rather difficult to describe, as it is quite unusual. The acid notes come back for the finish to disappear again after a few moments. This whisky is rather difficult to define but is clearly different from most other ones. I like it.

Colour: Dark Mahogany
The nose is not a surprise after having seen the colour of the whisky. Highly influenced by the sherry, and finally one wonders if any room is left for other odours than sherry. The answer is no ... Makes you wonder if it's a sherry or whisky is in the glass.
The palate is immediately less enjoyable ... Bitter and acidic sherry. An obvious imbalance in the aromas: acidity, alcohol and sherry. Bitterness. Not a lot of fun really. The contrast with the nose is quite surprising. The nose did not announces any annoying presence of alcohol, while the mouth is marked by tingling due to alcohol.
The finish is long and intense. It is actually a replica of the impressions of the mouth. Length and intensity are not synonymous of pleasure in this case.
After having seen which bottle I tasted (blind), the conclusion must be that this whisky deserves a second chance, because the impressions are not up to its reputation.

A nose with both hints of yeast and smells of fresh fruit. Remote nutty or woody touches.
In the palate, a first impression of dryness developing slowly on bitter notes before freeing some fruity tastes. Unfortunately, alcohol tingling is very present s well...
The finish is quite short and remains on the same register as the mouth with a bitterness dominant.
This bottle deserves probably another tasting in the next days.

The nose seems to be rather typical for a Benrinnes, with difficult to describe smells, meat and undergrowth hings. In the palate, the taste is first quite discrete, and the mouth followes perfectly the nose. Same impressions, same difficulties to describe them. The taste is even special as the nose was. The finish is cast in the same mould, with the same obsessing notes than in the palate or at the first nosing. This is definitely not my favourite.

The very first nose is quite unpleasant, as it is made from yeast and young leather. Fortunately it develops soon on meaty and malty hints which I prefer even if this is not my favourite combination of smells.
The palate is more interesting even if it remains quite discrete. Nice fruity notes above the yeast and malt impressions which remain on the background. The mouth is pleasantly sweet.
The finish is quite long and remains dominated by this strange impression of leather/yeast which could come from the triple distillation which is used by the distillery.

A nose between cut grass freshness and cashew nut bitterness. A light veil of smoke above the whole.
In the palate, cashew nut seems to dominate and some hints of milk chocolate appear. Alcohol is obviously present.
The finish is rather short and prolongs the mouth.

The nose is typical of Benrinnes. A little fairly yeasty smell typical waste a little bit the fun. Otherwise, the nose is balanced and has no other major flaw. The mouth is better than the nose, despite a fairly strong tingling due to alcohol. Beautiful citrus notes appear after a few moments. Once the alcohol tamed, the palate is creamy and pleasant without being complex. The finish is quite long and the same impressions of citrus and alcohol, although perfectly integrated, are present here too. This tasting was not done blindly. A very good whisky, technically flawless. Too bad that I do not usually like Benrinnes products (probably due to the triple distillation specific to this distillery)