Benrinnes 11 Year (1996), Chieftain's
Whisky: Benrinnes 11 Year (1996), Chieftain's
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 43%
Cask: Tokaji Wine Finish
Age: 11 Years (Distilled Oct. 1996, Bottled Jan. 2008)
Nose: Orange, citrus, tangerine, rose hips, pomegranate, ghee, bark, dried berries, musty loam.
Palate: Medium-bodied, cinnamon, gingerbread, dried fruits, clove, candied orange, icing sugar, oaky and slightly tannic at the end.
Finish: Medium-length with ginger, orange, and shortbread.
Score: 6
Mental Image: Public Forum on Gingerbread Housing
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was fruity and earthy with orange rind, dehydrated tangerine slices, hints of lime, and a tart-floral undercurrent that reminded me of rose hips but which occasionally appeared as a more earthy-musty loam. The aroma grew more exotic over time as notes of pomegranate, dried berries, buttery ghee, and tree bark arrived. The flavor profile took me straight to a gingerbread house contest— I was the judge walking between homes and high-rises made with cinnamon and clove spiced gingerbread, decorated with dried fruits, candied orange, lemon gum drops, and icing sugars. Did I get too hungry and bite the table? Woody and slightly tannic at the end with hints of coffee. The finish was medium-length with baking spices and mild oak.
The aroma and palate seemed oddly divorced on this Benrinnes, which was as smooth and glassy across the palate as you would expect from the distillery’s malt. I enjoyed them for different reasons, but I wished the whisky had felt more coherent. By the end of my first tasting, I was craving a gingerbread coffee beverage, and by the second time, I was googling when those usually appear. I have never had a dram fitting that notion quite well without veering off toward other festive notes.
Image Credit: Whiskybase
