Benriach & Glendronach Scotch Tasting

Tuesday April 22nd. 4:30 P.M. or 6:00 P.M.

with Alistair Walker

I was told once by an industry-insider that Billy Walker has one of the best noses and palates in the Business. Billy has been doing great work in the whisky industry for many years but the last ten years have been very special. In 2004 he and a group of investors purchased the Benriach Distillery. Although it has been open for more than 100 years, distillation was not actually taking place for more than half of that time. Because of their on-site malting facilities, they spent many years malting barley for other operations but not actively distilling it themselves. 

The group then purchased Glendronach in 2008 and I remember the day well — I looked up to the heavens and said “Thank You” because the U.S. never saw very much of their wonderful sherried single-malts. Then in 2013 the group acquired Glenglassaugh Distillery. Glenglassuagh is another distillery with a checkered past, but now it will get the love and attention it deserves, and flourish as it should.

We will focus on Benriach & Glendronach Distilleries in the tasting this coming Tuesday. Both have a great standard line-up that this time around we will skip but they’re ranges that we will show and work more with in the future. Billy’s talent for cask-selection shows when you taste any of his products, but especially in the limited single-casks we’ll be tasting next Tuesday. Quantities are limited and we are taking orders starting immediately for bottles that can be signed by Billy’s son, Alistair. This batch of casks from both Benriach and Glendronach are some of the best whisky that has come this way, and the depth and intricacy that they show are splendid. These are single malts that you (and those lucky few for whom you pour them) will remember for years after they are gone. In obtaining these Limited Releases I made a few people crazy — this state can be very hard to say the least. The sale price today reflect the pricing from last year but I believe that more increases are coming. There is not a bad apple in the bunch and they are they are all just precious. 

Benriach Heart of Speyside

Colour; Amber/ gold.

Nose; Fresh heather, fruit, honey, nuts and oak wood.

Palate: This expression cleverly captures fruit, honey, heather and spice notes, against a back drop of

mellow oak wood in a fresh and lively combination.

Regular: $41.99 Sale: $37.99 

Benriach  2000 12 Y.O. 58.1% Oloroso Sherry Finish  (34 days short of a 13 Y.O.)

Nose; Fresh oak spices roll over sweet golden sultanas and hints of ripe cantaloupe melon.

Palate; Creme caramel and rum-soaked sultanas balanced with cracked black pepper and sweet ripped mint.

Regular: $104.99 Sale: $92.99 

Benriach 1994  19 Y.O.  53.2% Peated / Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish

Color; Antique Gold

Nose; Mellow citrus smoke drapes over green apple and apricots.

Palate: Orange- zested roasted apples are engulfed by sweet, spicy oak smoke and spice.

Regular: $164.99 Sale: $149.99 

Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 2

Color; Rich golden amber with a crimson heart.

Nose: Wonderful rich aromas of honey drenched raisins and sultanas. Candied ginger and orange peel are spiced with a beautifully delicate back note of oak.

Palate: A perfectly balanced traditional sherried character. An explosion of chocolate coated raisins and zest of orange, mellowed with sweet warm  oak spices, hints  of soft toffee and gentle sugared almonds.

Finish; A uniquely balanced classic finish.

Regular: $139.99 Sale: $110.00 

Glendronach 1996 – 17 Y.O.  53.2%  Single Cask Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon

Color: Rich Burnt Amber

Nose: Toffee and fudge hold the rich dark fruits and oak spices

Palate: Chocolate and treacle combine with vanilla – laced prune syrup and figs; robust oak spices balance the sweet flavor explosion.

Regular: $154.99 Sale: $139.99 

Glendronach 1992 – 21 Y.O.  59.3%  Oloroso Sherry Butt

Color; Dark mahogany with rich ruby.

Nose; Crisp fresh- cut herbs and orange zest mingle with dark rum soaked raisins and currants.

Palate; Herbal stewed plums and orange bitters rolling to ground almonds and soft clove in a rich, traditional sherried finish.

Regular: $209.99 Sale: $189.99

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits
Email: joe@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/