Review 142: Benrinnes 14 Whisky Broker

That Longmorn from Whisky Broker was pretty good. So this is as good a time as any to review a very heavily sherried Benrinnes, which is also from Whisky Broker. This whisky was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2012, after spending those 14 years in sherry butt 6854.

Benrinnes 14 Whisky Broker

Color: Amber +2

ABV: 57.8%

Aroma Neat:
Macerated/Bruised Overripe Strawberries, Brandy, Maraschino Cherries (with syrup), Dried Orange Peels, Mulling Spices, Hot Apple Cider, Plump Raisins, Fresh Toffee/Caramel (still warm), Vanilla Bean (slightly), Dried Dates.

Bursting with red fruits. Strawberries and raisins are massive here, with a very brandy like character. I'd guess this is from a particularly juicy PX sherry cask and a pretty clean, sulfur-free one at that.

Aroma Water:
Dried Orange Peels, Cloves, Cinnamon, Mulled Wine/Cider, Brandy, Hot Wood Shavings/Toasted Oak, Vanilla Marshmallows, Sulfury Water//Brimstone (very slightly), Apple Jelly, Blackberry Jam, Overripe Strawberries, Boiled Fruits/Fruit Cake.

The fruitiness, while still large, backs off a bit and actually allows woody notes and fair amount of spice through. Much more fleshed out and diversified than neat. Sulfur is present now. The brimstone note probably makes it seem worse than it actually is...

Taste Neat:
Mulling Spices, Dried Orange Peels, Dried Cherries, Raisins, Leather, Tobacco (slightly), Sulfury Water, Sweet Brandy.

A bit of sulfur is evident, but it's the inoffensive sort. The palate is quite fruity, but not so much as the nose. There is more spice here and it seems a little older than its 14 years, to me at least.

Taste Water:
Cointreau, Dried Orange Peels, Overripe Strawberries, Raspberries, Juicy Raisins, Brandy, Wax (slightly), Dates, Mango/Pepper, Oily Cloves, Nutmeg (slightly), Cloudy Apple Juice.

Ah, a very enjoyable blend of citrus, dried fruit, and even some more tropical fruit, balanced against, a somewhat tannic spiciness.

Finish:
Dried Orange Peel, Cloves, Strawberry Preserves, Barrel Char (faint smoke), Gunpowder.

Warming and fruity/spicy. Faintly sulfury, in the gunpowder fashion. I actually really like this aspect of the finish. A little dirtiness can be a good thing, as long as it goes in the right direction!

Conclusion:
Very, very fruity nose that, like so many other good whiskies, develops a lot after pouring.

Fruity and spicy palate that takes on good depth with water.

Medium duration finish which is mulled and jammy. I'd like to have this on a hayride in October.

Rating: 87/100

A well above average sherry bomb! It will deliver your fruit fix expertly, but it's far from being a one-trick pony. What else needs to be said?

Josh