Benrinnes 26 Year (1997) Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Bourbon Barrel

Scotch Whisky Review : Benrinnes 26 Year (1997) Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Bourbon Barrel

Distillery: Benrinnes.

Bottler: Cadenhead’s.

Region: Speyside.

Age: 26 year. Distilled in 1997 and bottled on September 22, 2023.

ABV: 52.9% Cask Strength.

Cask Type: Bourbon Barrel.

Price: Sample courtesy of /u/dustbunna.

Color: 0.5, Yellow Gold.

This whisky was reviewed blind courtesy of /u/dustbunna as part of a Twelve Fourteen Days of Christmas set. The note on this dram was “XII (Twelve) Drummers Drumming”.

Nose: This is quite heavy of a nose, it feels like every sniff I take my nose is physically being drawn down the glass because of the weight. Citrus is the major note out the gate, mostly in the form of lemon. There’s also a bit of vanilla, a bit of icing sugar, and even a tiny bit of wax.

Palate: The mouthfeel has a heft to it, though certainly not as much as the nose. This tastes remarkably familiar. Malt barley is one of the more prominent notes along with lemon hard candies and some icing sugar. Adding water doesn’t seem to do anything really.

Finish: Medium in length. Lemon shortbread cookies that are covered in a lemon-y sugar glaze.

Guess: Scotland. Highland. Clynelish. 10-14 years of age. Ex-Bourbon. 55-60% ABV.

Reveal: Benrinnes 26 Year (1997) Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Bourbon Barrel.

Conclusion: Rounding out this selection of blinds from /u/dustbunna is this fairly well aged Benrinnes. As usual, my guess is kinda out there but I’m pretty happy to have at least nailed the cask and ABV. My belief about Benrinnes needing to be in a sherry cask remains strong and this seems to be another example of that. While everything that was going on here, the citrus particularly, was really nice, there just wasn’t a whole lot going on. Simple and tasty enough, but not one to really chase or seek out.

Rating: 81.

Scotch Whisky Review , Speyside Review , Whisky Network Review

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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