BenRiach The Original Twelve Review

Paul Needham -

BOTTLE DETAILS

  • DISTILLER: Benriach Distillery
  • MASH BILL: 100% Malted Barley
  • Cooperage: Three cask matured in sherry, bourbon, and port casks
  • AGE: 12 years
  • YEAR: 2020
  • PROOF: 92 Proof (46% ABV)
  • MSRP: $50-55
  • BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

PAUL'S NOTES

NOSE: Orange | Pound Cake | Light Berries | Cocoa

TASTE: Honey | Toasted Nuts | Cocoa Again | Apple Butter

FINISH: Medium | A bit shorter and more dry than the Original Ten | Spearmint | Granny Smith Apple

SHARE WITH: Someone who liked the Original Ten but would rather drink a 12-year-old scotch.

WORTH THE PRICE: In a vacuum, probably. At $5-10 more than The Original Ten, I don't think so.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I think this is a Bar all day for me. I don't really have a negative thing to say about it, but it's just too similar to the Original Ten to me to justify the extra money on the bottle of juice that's 2 years older.

OVERALL: I've mentioned before in my reviews that I work really hard not to look at the brand's tasting notes for a bottle I'm reviewing until I've tasted it myself. Usually I pick up the stronger notes that brand advertises and differ on the more subtle flavors. Every once in a while, I write down the notes exactly as the brand does, which gives me a nice sense of undeserved pride.

I've had a hard time remembering a time when my tasting notes differed so widely from the brand's own for a bottle I actually liked (usually when the difference is this great, it's a dumpster fire).  The sample bottle I received tasted simply like The Original Ten that had a couple extra years on it. I did not pick up virtually any of the sugar or dark fruit notes that a sherried whisky or one aged in port casks should impart. To the contrary, I found the finish quite tart and dry. That being said, I quite liked this bottle and wouldn't want people to think that it's not worth a taste. Of the non-smoked whiskies coming out of Benriach right now, though, I believe The Original Ten to be a better value.


BRAND NOTES

BENRIACH THE ORIGINAL TWELVE TASTING NOTES


COLOUR: Golden Bronze

NOSE: Rich maple honey, cocoa and baked forest fruit

TASTE: Maraschino cherry, baked orange and hazelnut, with a lingering sultana and spiced mocha finish

SMOKE LEVEL: Nil

To make Benriach Twelve, Benriach spirit is three cask matured for at least twelve years in sherry casks, bourbon barrels and port casks. The whisky from each cask is then expertly married together to create a smooth, sherry-rich single malt, layered with baked fruit, maple honey and cocoa, perfectly balanced with a lingering sultana and spiced mocha finish.

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.