Benrinnes 2011

The effect of two years in first fill Pedro Ximenez casks on this delicate Speyside malt does not necessarily make it a winey whisky, but it definitely helped in enhancing texture, body and its creamy character. The nose is clean and fruity, mostly dominated by ripe cherries: both of the sweeter black kind, and the sourer red ones. There are candied oranges too, and a pleasantly buttery note of fresh pastries. At the palate it’s smooth but quite robust bodied, again slightly buttery, raisiny and honeyed, with a faint note of brown sugar. While it’s a rich profile, verging towards a fatter approach, it’s very well balanced by the sour note of maraschino cherries. The fullness of body translates into a finale that keeps growing in intensity, with a tannic presence that starts to be felt, without ever becoming overwhelming.