Everything You Need To Know About Benriach Distillery With Rachel Barrie

 

As Master Blender for Brown-Forman’s scotch family of malts, I have the honor of working with three distilleries that are beautifully distinctive and quite different from each other. This includes The Glendronach in the Highlands, Benriach in the heart of Speyside, and Glenglassaugh on the coast,  nestled by the white sandy beach of Sandend Bay. 

It is a privilege to oversee the wood policy, be the guardian of spirit quality standards, and ensure that every drop of whisky is the best it possibly can be.

Launching the new Benriach portfolio in 2020 was an incredibly proud moment for me in my career. It presented an amazing opportunity for me to make my mark on an entirely new range of malts and it was great to see a project, so many years in the making, come together in the way it did.

Blending with Benriach is like an artist’s dream – there are so many cask types and styles of spirit to choose from and experiment with. My vision with Benriach’s new range was to create whiskies with endless flavor possibilities – and that is exactly what we did.

I like to describe my role as similar to an artist, but instead, I get to paint with flavor. This process resulted in some of our most experimental creations yet, including a range of unusual smoky Speyside whiskies such as Smoke Season, The Smoky Ten, and The Smoky Twelve.

The Benriach range is for those open to new possibilities, building on a wealth of experience and tradition. If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore our whiskies, I invite you to join me in enjoying the rich rewards of single malt whisky at Benriach.

Here is everything you need to know about Benriach.

Where Is Benriach Distillery? 

Founded in 1898, Benriach Distillery is located in North Speyside. Ruggedly beautiful, Benriach stands on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer deep beneath the distillery.

In our warehouses lies one of the most eclectic selections of casks in Scotland. Our ‘sleeping beauties’, as we often call them, continue to be sourced from all over the world, enabling us to creatively explore the full flavor possibilities of Speyside single malt.

Displaying the diversity and versatility of Benriach’s orchard fruit-laden style, the Benriach range spans the full spectrum of whisky flavors.

How To Pronounce Benriach

Benriach is pronounced as BEN – REE – ACH.

Benriach Original Ten

The Original Ten is part of Benriach’s core range and is an introduction to its signature style of Speyside single malts; perfectly marrying tradition and innovation that is central to Benriach’s story.

Inspired by the 1994 bottling of the Original Ten, with its fruit-laden complexity and smooth, rounded taste, the current Original Ten re-imagines the 1898 origins of Benriach, brought to life in the 21st century through fusing distilling styles with extraordinary casks.

The Original Ten is three-cask matured for at least ten years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and virgin oak, to create layers of luscious orchard fruit, sumptuous honeyed malt, and toasted oak, all interwoven with a subtle trace of smoke.

Who Is It For? 

The Original Ten flavor profile means that it can be enjoyed by experienced whisky aficionados and beginners alike. Enthusiasts can bask in the traditions and heritage that go into the making of The Original Ten while enjoying Benriach’s signature fruit-laden style.

It can be enjoyed neat or works wonderfully in luscious and refreshing highball serves.

Comparable Whiskies

Benriach’s use of eclectic casks showcases the wide range of flavor possibilities that can be achieved with single malts. Our peated expressions may be compared to Islay whiskies for example, which are known for being peated. 

The distinct inland peat used for Benriach creates a sweeter smoke style compared to the more coastal peat flavors of Islay malts. Our unpeated style expressions, however, offer a different flavor experience: more classically Speyside with notes of orchard fruit and toasted oak – a flavor common to other malts in the Speyside region.

Can A Bourbon Lover Enjoy The Whisky? 

Bourbon casks are the most popular maturation cask we use at Benriach. Bourbon casks bring out the orchard fruit sweetness of the spirit during maturation and are used in all our core range expressions.

What Is The Oldest Benriach Whisky Ever Produced? 

Benriach 1966 Cask Aged 50 Years is the first whisky from the distillery to be bottled at 50 years old and comprises the finest portrayal of Benriach’s signature fruit-laden style, with deep complexity and luxurious refinement.

At Benriach Distillery our ability to nurture flavor has been informed by our heritage in maturing an eclectic array of casks from across the world and we have a creative philosophy and exploratory approach towards whisky making. Over many decades, this has granted an expert understanding of what makes the exceptional cask.

Crafted from one cask and with just 37 bottles available, Benriach 1966 Cask Aged 50 Years is our ultimate treasure. Sip fifty years of opulent refinement with notes of sublime honeyed dates and delicate oak spices in harmony with the lingering finesse of apple, pear, and traces of grapefruit.

The expression is held within a bespoke crystal decanter, made in Scotland by Glasstorm. Each decanter is presented in a presentation box made by master craftsman John Galvin, its design inspired by the colorful array of eclectic casks that fill Benriach’s warehouses, where the expression has been nurtured for the last half a century.

This is our art – a testament to the expertise in and commitment to extraordinary cask maturation at the distillery.

What Is The Best Cocktail To Make With Benriach Whisky? 

Our global brand ambassador Stewart Buchanan, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary working with Benriach this year, loves Benriach Penicillin

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Benriach The Original Ten
• 3/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz. Honey-Ginger Syrup*
• 1/4 oz. Benriach The Smoky Ten
• Candied ginger, garnish

Method:

Add Benriach The Original Ten, lemon juice, and honey-ginger syrup into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with Benriach The Smoky Ten. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger and enjoy.

*Preparing the Honey-Ginger Syrup:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 (6-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cup water

Bring all ingredients to a saucepan over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Chill overnight, then strain, and discard solids. Serve in a short glass with ice or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Is Benriach A Good Whisky? 

Following the launch of the new core range in 2020, Benriach secured an outstanding seven Double Gold Medals at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, considered one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world.

Following a record-breaking 1,276 whisky entries from all corners of the world, Benriach received Double Gold medals for seven expressions in its new range. Double Gold is the highest medal available and is only awarded to entries that receive Gold medal ratings by all of the 30-strong judging panel.

As Master Blender for Benriach, my job alongside our whisky-making team is to explore the full flavor possibilities of Single Malt, creating some of the richest, most multi-layered whiskies in Speyside. We were honored that our work to explore a world of flavor through the new range has been so extensively recognized by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It’s even more special because all spirits were judged blindly by an esteemed panel of judges.

Who Owns Benriach Distillery? 

The distillery is owned by Brown-Forman who purchased the distillery, alongside The GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh distilleries in 2016.

Benriach unveiled a new core range in 2020, beginning with The Original Ten, The Twelve, The Smoky Ten and The Smoky Twelve and now extending to The Sixteen, The Twenty One, The Twenty Five, The Thirty, The Forty, and Benriach’s oldest and rarest single malt to date – Benriach 1966 Cask Aged 50 Years.

Also in 2021, following an initial six-figure investment project by Brown Forman, the distillery opened a new visitor center that offers a variety of flavor focused tour and tasting experiences, encouraging visitors to discover Benriach’s multi-layered Single Malt and rich creative heritage dating back to 1898.

All three distilleries continue to prosper through continued investment by Brown-Forman who remain dedicated to nurturing their rich heritage while continuing to grow and diversify their offerings.