BenRiach 25 Years Old 1993 Rioja Cask #7881 (54.3%, OB, Batch 16, 231 Bottles, 2019)

• ABV: 54.3%
• Age:  25 Years Old
• Bottling: OB, Single Cask releases Batch 16
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £250
• Origin: Benriach distillery
• Vintage: 1993

What they say

Founded in 1898, BenRiach Distillery has long been the home of an ingenious approach to whisky distilling and cask maturation. The release of BenRiach Cask Bottling Batch 16 offers a rich insight into the eclectic cask collection from around the world residing in the warehouses of this north Speyside distillery. Master Blender, Dr. Rachel Barrie, has hand-selected 24 different casks to feature in this limited edition batch release, showcasing an exceptional range of hand-crafted cask bottlings, in both unpeated and peated styles.

Batch 16 includes 16 unpeated and 8 peated cask bottlings from a selection of cask types sourced from around the world: Tokaji wine, oloroso sherry, pedro ximénez, port, claret, madeira, sauternes, virgin oak, South African red wine, Jamaican rum, rioja, Sicilian Marsala, and bourbon. Each bottle is filled exclusively from one of these individual cask types. From this batch, 12 casks will be available in Europe and 12 casks in Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie said:

“There is no better insight into our intriguing palette of flavour than BenRiach Cask Bottling Batch 16. Featuring 24 different casks, this release provides a rare opportunity to explore the many facets of BenRiach maturation in one batch, something us whisky makers are lucky to do every day. Batch 16 offers the sweet side of Sicilian Marsala wood, smoked plum of the Rioja cask and a dark manuka honey palate of the 30 year old Tokaji; there is a journey and a story behind each cask bottling to be enjoyed by whisky explorers.”

BenRiach Cask Bottling Release – Batch 16 is available to purchase from specialist retailers from June 2019 in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Depending on the expression, the ABV ranges from 46.5% to 61.6%. All are non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

Official tasting notes:

• 1993 CASK #7881
• Aged: 25 years
• Cask Type: Rioja
• Appearance: Autumn russet-gold.
• Nose: Chocolate, toasted hazelnut and cherry cake open to reveal plum, baking spice and burnt vanilla meringue, with a back-note of leather and tobacco leaf.
• Palate: The bittersweet taste of dark chocolate and blackberry compote lead to smoked plum, black pepper and cherry stone into the firm, fruity finish.
• ABV: 54.3%

What I say

From Benriach’s 16th batch (2019) of their single cask series, allocated for European release this is a 1993 vintage matured for 25 years in an ex Rioja red wine cask.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Dark blood red (14/20), fine tears, beaded on thin legs.
• Nose: Sweet, doughy, brioche, yeasty, dark chocolate, fruity, red grape, cherry, plum, oak wood, quite fresh oak, strawberry, raspberry and vanilla.
• Taste: Mixed red berry and cherry fruits, slightly sharp and acidic almost elderberry in nature with the same earthiness, dark chocolate, hazelnut, strawberry barley sugars, sherbet and tannic oak, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
• Finish: Long, sweet spiced oak wood and dark fruits.

Overall

A great red wine influenced expression, fruity, full of dark chocolate and woody oak tannins.

Score 90/100

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