Benriach 35 Years Old42.5% NV

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (92)

This baby should cure us… Colour: amber. Nose: Pablo Casals after Justin Bieber. A perfect combination of nectar, many honeys, some beeswax, several slightly overripe western fruits (apples, pears, plums) and several well-ripened topical ones (papayas, mangos). Add a drop of menthol oil and a little white chocolate. This is more than perfect, elegant, subtle, and yet ‘evident’, even if it hasn’t quite got the ‘evidence’ of some older vintages, such as 1968 or 1976. Mouth: ah, evidence indeed. It’s a clear case of an obvious oakiness that’s so well complemented with fruit jams and syrups that balance gets perfect. More papayas, sultanas, pineapple jam, apples, honeys… And indeed a tobacco-like oakiness, and even many tannins, but those are very ‘silky’. Finish: medium, rather on apricots this time, which makes it resemble the (better side of) the 15yo Sauternes. Exceptional touches of mint tea, Moroccan-style. We’re at the Gazelle d’Or in Taroudant, sipping this while listening to the (friendly) muezzin… Comments: a perfect example of a perfect balance between a fruity spirit and an assertive old oak. Totally perfect, IMHO

Words of Whisky (91)