BenRiach Authenticus 30 Year Old
Nose: Subtly smoldering peat smoke - brine soaked
samphire - raisins and sultanas steeped in bourbon - baked spiced apples - orange
peel – poached pears drizzled with honey - aniseed twists - madagascan vanilla pods
- mixed spice - warm treacle - M&S chocolate truffles - espresso coffee and
Cafe Creme cigarillos.
Palate: Swathes of seductive peat
smoke - blackberry coulis - vanilla rich crème brûlée - bread pudding - baked
peaches - Cadbury's Old Jamaica chocolate bar - aniseed twists - sweet oak - stewed
black builder’s tea and the subtlest suggestions of five spice.
Finish: A decadently delicious, deep dark lingering
finish, that just keeps on delivering!
Summary: It’s always a genuine thrill to
sip and savour a Speysider that pays homage to its peated past, and this latest
release from BenRiach, which is punctuated perfectly by a punch of peat, is
certainly no exception.
I would urge everyone to give this one a
whirl if they can, but if £400 is beyond your bottle budget, heck its certainly beyond
mine, keep your eyes peeled for a BenRiach stand at your next whisky festival,
where you might just be lucky enough to be able to try a sample. Failing that and for just
under £40, you could grab a bottle of their phenol-menal peated Curiositas 10
Year Old.
Releases from the BenRiach Distillery, seem
to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Here’s hoping that they remain purposeful
and don’t become a churn of all things filler and no killer.
