Scotch

Whisky Review: Bennachie 21 Year Old

We review Bennachie 21 Year Old, an example of a Scotch whisky brand which has generally fallen by the wayside as the market evolved.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Light golden honey with greenish tones. Quick, thin legs.
Nose:
Vanilla cream. Oak, more green than charred. Unidentifiable yet vaguely familiar chemical smell in the mix. Mint on the tail end of the nose.
Palate:
Very delicate. Light on flavor with a very light burn. Sweet cream. Vanilla. Clean and straightforward. Very quick and light finish. Almost nonexistent. Aftertaste of cream soda. Conclusion: Much has been written regarding the importance of age statements and just exactly how much or little they reflect quality of a given whisky. The obvious great attractor to someone unfamiliar seeking a bottle of this malt blend would likely be the idea of displaying an age statement in excess of two decades without having to shell out top dollar to do it. That is, unfortunately, where the value reaches its zenith. Beyond a display piece, Bennachie 21-year-old falls completely flat as an example of the Speyside region or a malt blend. There was just nothing of note to cause me to seek out more as the dram passed by almost unnoticed. This does make me wonder how the 10 and 17-year-old offerings would have fared, but I doubt I will lose any sleep over not knowing. FINAL SCORE: 70/100
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Joshua St. John

When not savoring whiskey, Joshua St. John can likely be found exploring the trails of the Pacific Northwest near his Portland, Oregon, home. A lifelong world traveler, he was first captivated by single malts during visits to Scottish distilleries. He continues to explore the globe, discovering its diverse cultures through the myriad expressions of his beloved spirit.

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