BenRiach releases 21yo whisky aged in four casks

Speyside distillery BenRiach has unveiled a 21-year-old single malt whisky matured in ex-Bourbon, virgin oak, Pedro Ximenez and red wine casks.

Whisky aged in each of these four casks is blended together by BenRiach master blender, Rachel Barrie – creating a “multi-faceted and superbly balanced malt”. Each cask gives the whisky unique notes, such as the Bourbon vanilla, virgin oak spice, Pedro Ximenez sweetness and vinous red fruits, each developing from BenRiach’s “signature sweet barley and fruit-laden style”. Barrie said: “At BenRiach we have developed a reputation for innovative maturation using an eclectic mix of cask types. BenRiach 21-year-old is the next step on this innovative journey, bringing together four eclectic casks in one single malt: Bourbon barrels at its core enriched by virgin American oak, Pedro Ximenez and red wine casks. On the nose, BenRiach 21-year-old has notes of "ripe summer fruit compote with contrasting candied peel and a warming stem ginger background" and its taste is described as "soft vanilla and cinnamon give way to tangy red fruits and citrus peel. Barley sugars and honeyed malt build into the long, sweet and satisfying finish." Barrie added: “This new unpeated expression is likely to both surprise and delight, I look forward to sharing this enigmatic malt with all intrigued to discover more.” This unpeated single malt is one of two BenRiach expressions to be released at 21-years-old, the other is a “richly peated” spirit which will be released in early 2018. The Speyside distillery recently unveiled its oldest expression to date, 30-year-old Authenticus.