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Benrinnes 21 years

woody malty
4.5
(4)€346Scotland, Speyside, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

For decades the stills near Aberlour ran an unusual route. Until 2007 the distillery used a partial triple distillation, an oddity among its neighbours. Worm tub condensers cooled the spirit, leaving it heavier and a touch meaty. Long ageing has rounded all that into something deep and generous. The sherry cask gives dried fruit and dark chocolate, with prune sitting underneath. A slick of honey softens the edges. There is orange peel too, bright against the weight. At full cask strength it carries real heft. Sip it slowly and let that old stillhouse character show through.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Benrinnes

Benrinnes Distillery, located in the Speyside region of Scotland, is known for its single malt Scotch whiskies. With a history dating back to 1826. Benrinnes whiskies are known for their complex flavours, often featuring a delightful combination of fruity and spicy notes, along with a subtle hint of sherry influence. The maturation process takes place in carefully selected oak casks, allowing the whisky to develop its depth and maturity over time. An interesting fact about Benrinnes is that it uses a unique distillation method known as "partial triple distillation." This process involves distilling the whisky first in a traditional pot still, then re-distilling a portion of the spirit in a "spirit still," creating a characteristically robust and full-bodied whisky.

4.4Average rating

37Whiskies on Distilld

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Speyside

Most popular whiskies from Benrinnes

About the Benrinnes 21 years

Benrinnes 21 years is a single malt Scotch whisky from Benrinnes, a distillery in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was bottled for the Diageo Special Releases 2014 at a natural cask strength of 56.9%. The distillery sits on the lower slopes of a hill near Aberlour. For a long stretch it did something its neighbours did not. Between 1974 and 2007 Benrinnes ran a partial triple distillation. That was a genuinely unusual setup in Scotch whisky. Its still necks are cooled by worm tubs, an older method now rarely seen. Together they gave the spirit a fuller, slightly meaty backbone. This is why the malt carries such weight on the tongue. This sherry cask matured single malt leans into rich and savoury territory. Dried fruit and prune lead the way. Dark chocolate sits underneath the fruit. Molasses adds a treacly depth, with a thread of honey for sweetness. Orange peel cuts through and keeps everything lively. A faint earthy note lingers in the background. Old oak frames the whole thing without ever turning dry or bitter. At 21 years the texture is thick and mouth-coating. The high strength brings real intensity to each sip. The flavours arrive in slow waves rather than all at once. There is grip here, the kind that rewards a little patience. Benrinnes 21 years is best enjoyed neat, with a few drops of water to ease open the heavier notes. This is a whisky for unhurried evenings. It shows clearly what long sherry maturation and an old-fashioned stillhouse can achieve together. Few Speyside malts feel quite this substantial.