BenRiach The Original Ten Review
If you’re familiar with Speyside scotches, imagine paying 8 extra bucks for a slightly more bold Glenmorangie 10. That’s how I would describe this single malt. That being said, I prefer this bottle from Benriach to it for a couple reasons.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: BenRiach Distillery
- MASH BILL: 100% Malted Barley
- Cooperage: Three Cask Matured: Ex-bourbon, Sherry, and Virgin Oak
- AGE: 10 Years
- YEAR: 2020
- PROOF: 86 Proof (43% ABV)
- MSRP: $45.00
- BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com
PAUL'S NOTES
NOSE: Clementine | Cherries | Plum | Honey | Malt
TASTE: Apricot Preserves | Spearmint | Vanilla | White Pepper
FINISH: Vanilla | Honey | Spice from the bourbon casks | Much longer and warmer than I'd expect given the proof
SHARE WITH: Fans of Speyside Scotch. This is a strong example of the region with a relatively low price of entry.
WORTH THE PRICE: The range is between $40-45. I'd say that's very fair for a 10-year, single malt of this quality.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: At this price point, there are so many options for Speyside single malts. While this one is incredibly solid, I don't know that it separates itself, so I'd try it at a bar first to see if it's for you.
OVERALL: If you're familiar with Speyside scotches, imagine paying 8 extra bucks for a slightly more bold Glenmorangie 10. That's how I would describe this single malt. I always have a bottle of Glenmorangie 10 on my bar, and I prefer this bottle from BenRiach to it, because while the former's solitary sweetness makes it more suitable for dessert, I found the sweetness in The Original Ten to be more well-rounded with a bit of spice. I think if you enjoy Scotches from Speyside, this is one versatile dram - equally suited to dinner or dessert. Check it out, let me know what you think and don't forget to #drinkcurious!
BRAND NOTES
THE ORIGINAL TEN
COLOUR
Summer Gold
NOSE
Rich orchard fruit, honey and toasted oak
PALATE
Ripe pear, nectarine and malt sweetness, with a finishing note of almond and spiced vanilla
SMOKE LEVEL
Trace
The Original Ten encapsulates the signature smooth and multi-layered character of Benriach. Three cask matured for at least ten years in bourbon barrels,sherry casks and virgin oak, to create layers of luscious orchard fruit, sumptuous honeyed malt and toasted oak, all interwoven with a subtle trace of smoke.The perfect introduction to our signature style and richly layered Speyside Single Malt.
Natural Cask-Imparted Colour
ABV 43%
Disclaimer: Benriach provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.