Benrinnes is known for its slightly pungent style. For blenders this can be interesting, as it usually adds body and power to a blend (J&B or Johnnie Walker in this case). But it can also prove a difficult dram when bottled on its own. We’ll try a recent 1984 cask in the Liquid Library series by The Whisky Agency.

Benrinnes 28 yo 1984 (49,9%, Liquid Library 2012, refill sherry hogshead, 271 btl.)

Nose: quite neutral, with some malty notes, porridge and muesli. Shy fruits, mostly apple and pear, with some citrus in the background. A slight milky note too (something in between vanilla custard and horchata). Some damp wood / humid hay too. Mouth: still very malty. Quite sweet at first, rather thick and slightly honeyed, with plenty of creamy vanilla notes. Apples. Again some curiously milky notes. Slightly alcoholic. Quickly moving towards earthy notes and a straightforward bitterness (grasses and herbs, grapefruit zest, maybe even some mustard cress). Ginger. Finish: quite long, still malty and fairly bitter.

Not the easiest dram indeed, showing slightly weird and unbalanced flavours. I’d like to revisit it some time, but for now I won’t have particularly positive memories. Around € 140.

Score: 81/100