BenRiach 23yo 1986/09 (56.1%, OB, Binny’s/PLOWED, Peated/Pedro Ximinez Finish, 314 Bts., C#3182)

A single cask bottled for Binny’s Chicago and selected by the PLOWED Society from a peated hogs head and finished in Pedro Ximinez casks. The nose is of peat smoke and a myriad of deep rich dark fruit and Christmas cake along with some hints of diesel and coal smoke. All in all a very good combination. Also sherry, hints of nutmeg and raisins. The taste is peated, woody (& hints of char) and once again the fruit is much in evidence however there is some dryness and this over takes the other characteristics some what but this does not detract. This is very good. The finish is warming, syrupy and dark raisiny sweet along with some super dry oaky moments with a back ground of white chocolate. It is quite long and consistent.

Very well balanced and a good combination of peat smoke and the Pedro Ximinez sherry and great depth.  The BenRiach character has vanished however but no matter as this is very nice.

US$170 at www.binnys.com

Score 85 points