28/12/2023 Benriach

Benriach 5yo 2014/2020 (60%, A.D. Rattray, Bourbon Oak Barrel, C#100, 258b): I said yesterday it would not be fair to have this one in the same flight, did I not? Nose: fresh and lively, it is also a little simple. Cylinder heads with a drop of lubricant so clean one would struggle to identify what it is made of, dried oats, and alcohol. Whatever else, assuming there is something else, is less clear. Rehydrated sultanas, maybe, and a disinfectant that does not seem to be tincture of iodine or mercurochrome. It becomes dry as a haystack, in the medium run. The second nose has a heated slice of cantaloupe, and newly-waxed hard floor (resin or concrete). A subdued dollop of shoe polish or Tiger Balm too. Later, we have apricot turnovers, crystal clear. Mouth: hot and green. One really has to like green pepper, because there is plenty of it on display. It has fierce citrus underneath, (Kaffir) lime, pomelo, unripe yuzu, and a mini-slice of juicy pineapple to try and balance that. We find a pinch of crushed Aspirin too that accompanies heated green-citrus peels. The second sip has some kind of plant sap and gingery peppermint sprayed with custard cream for control. It still has some citrus, yet that is now very much in the background -- unripe satsumas that have not yet developed much taste. Finish: not quite the aggression one might expect (it is still warm, to be clear), this serves more green and unripe citrus, with a tiny does of Aspirin again, yet none of the disinfectant from the nose. Repeated sipping leaves the gums and teeth all numb, and the tongue coated in a leafy, gingery paste. Retro-nasal olfaction sees a pleasant note of custard, with a dusting of cinnamon and ginger powders. This is pretty good, especially considering the ridiculous age statement. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, A.D. Rattray -- I think)