Review #: 503
Description: Benriach The Twelve
Spirit: Scotch
Background: Building off the original, “The Twelve” obviously adds an additional 2 years of aging to the minimum. It’s still comprised of 3 different casks, but with Sherry and Bourbon, it replaces the Virgin Oak with Port. Let’s see what kind of difference it makes.
Distillery – Benriach
Bottler – Benriach
Brand – Benriach
Selection – N/A
ABV – 46%
Age – 12 Years
Nose – Still fruity but more on the rich side, apple walnut bread, caramel, raisin, dark cherry, little bit of oak and cocoa
Taste – Richness continues, sweet vanilla and honey, apple
Finish – Oak and some of that dark fruit (probably from the port) comes with a tickle of pepper and toasted malt
Score: 5
Would I buy a bottle? At $60 or so a bottle I would probably pass
Thoughts: Certainly fine, but tasting it right after the 10, it calms down the bright fruit that I enjoyed in the younger whisky. I also think the switching of the virgin oak to the port cask takes away a level of complexity that made the sip rewarding.