21-year-old

An interesting and very complex-looking bottling that surprises with a delicate smokiness. As far as the smoke is concerned, this bottling is an exception in that Benriach traditionally explicitly labels the smoky bottlings as such. Before, for example, there was the "normal" 21-year-old and, as a supplement, the smoky "Temporis 21-year-old.". For the 25-year-old it was the "Authenticus". So, people who don't like smoky bottlings might be surprised here or might be disappointed considering the high price. Although the smoke is less strong than, for example, with the 21-year-old Temporis, it is still quite present and has a significant impact on the taste experience. I also find the aroma of the smoke quite astonishing, which here also goes a little in the direction of ham and smokehouse, which is very untypical for Benriach. Normally, with Benriach we are dealing with a very herbaceous/herbal smoke, which is also very different from the Islay and Insel whiskys. Since I appreciated this burnt herb so much in the smoky bottlings I was familiar with, I am a bit disappointed that the character of the smoke has changed, even if the herbal smoky note is still perceptible in nuances here. Otherwise, in addition to the smoke, the spiciness is more in the foreground here and overall everything fits together quite harmoniously and shows a high level of complexity. I can say that, although the aroma doesn't meet my taste. Incidentally, this bottling is also less alcohol-sharp than the 21-year-old "Temporis".

Very elegant nose with a cartload of fruit, wet soil and a whiff of smoke. Fir trees, resin, nuts and honey. Delicious. On the taste, I am pleasantly surprised by a trace of smoke that nicely frames the fruit. Satisfying finish

Very balanced and drinkable - really not bad

Well, what can I say about it, it's very good and super arranged as a whole.

A huge variety of notes: from fruity to cologne. It feels like the drink hasn't decided on its character, since it has a little bit of everything.

Got a nice sample from the Benriach ambassador Nathan at Whisky festival Leiden this year. Good price for a 21 year old, and not bad!

Buy again? Yes Recommend? Yes Drink if offered? Definetely

Golden. Bourbon, sherry, virgin oak, red wine casks. Nose dish, vanilla, dark fruit, light of smoke, sour. Taste fine sweetness, dish, vanilla, dark fruit, light smoke. The barrel online tasting.

BenRiach Session: 2022.11.16. https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/81546/benriach-16-year-old 86- https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/165509/benriach-21-year-old 87+ https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/181000/benriach-2009 86+ https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/172912/benriach-2010-smws-1245 85+ https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/218362/benriach-2008-am 87-

Very delicate, lots of vanilla with red fruits, followed by a subtle aftertaste of citrus, malt sweetness and honey.

Nose is quite young Palate is good.

A very complex dram which has so many dimensions to it. Speyside and Smoky in perfect harmony.

Aroma: Honey, floral, light smoke, salty, When first smelled, a salty note and rich floral scents emerge behind the smoky notes, supported by sweet aromas like honey or vanilla. After sufficient swirling, a cool fruit scent reminiscent of pear gently rises, and the smoky and salty notes fade away. Flavor: Salty, Smoke, Peat, Vanilla, Citrus It feels like the aromas I smelled are perfectly complemented by the taste. An intense salty taste predominates, while other flavors are weak. After swirling sufficiently, the saltiness subsides and a bland sweetness rises, but this is actually less interesting than the saltiness. Neck: Intense floral scent, peat Once you swallow it, an intense floral scent blooms. It doesn't last long, and the distinctive scent of peat settles in afterwards. The finish is too short, and compared to the use of wine casing, it does not end cleanly, leaving a subtle harmony of peat and saltiness. Overall Impression: Last time I opened it for the first time and drank it, I thought I was only tasting the saltiness because I wasn't feeling well, but it seems the saltiness is naturally very emphasized in this one. Although I am somewhat sensitive to salty tastes, along with Kilchoman, this is a whisky that feels very salty among the ones I have tried.

An interesting, well-balanced example, smokey enough for a 21 year old whisky, with a rich palette of shades.

£120.. for 21 year old decent price. Nice dram but didn’t wow me

He needs some time. Initially a noticeable peat note, then it almost disappears, but without disappearing completely. Then the barrel notes: A pitchfork full of straw, slightly fruity features in the background. I don't like to tell the four different barrels apart, but overall it seems quite successful. 46%, fits! Strong enough. Very round in taste, full-bodied. It doesn't come across as a thin soup. Really nicely balanced between wood, fruit and peat notes. Very nicely done!

the aroma is sweet, very unusual, some white flowers, pears, fermented apricots, strange tropical fruits, vanilla, baked apples, some red berries, fruit jelly, a hint of smoke, applesauce, baked potatoes(?). It's interesting, but specific, not my style 86 points. Palate: nice, a bit tart, honey, red apples, yellow pear, yellow apples, fruity berry jelly, light wood, nutmeg, spices, some smoke, ash, some typical benriach cream.86 finish: medium length, heather honey, apple , red berries, smoke, nutmeg. 86 points. Nothing special

Given the fantastic value so far with Benriach’s new lineup that we tasted earlier (e.g., The Original Ten (£37 / $50 US), The Smoky Ten (£41 / $50 US), The Twelve (£43 / $55 US), The Smoky Twelve (£47 / $60 US)), the price jump and performance of Benriach’s The Twenty One was just not there. It wasn’t 300% better than those bottles, and in fact, everyone in our whisky group agreed that we’d rather buy multiple bottles of the Benriach core lineup at those lower prices and enjoy, than pick up 1 bottle of The Twenty One. It’s not bad at all, and a solid offering, but in this case, the extra age only mutes the smoke, but the additional expected elegance and complexity of other flavors isn’t there.

So this combination of barrels of this whisky is very good. It is beautifully neat, spicy, sweet, chocolate raisin. Great

Golden color. Oily structure.

Slightly peaty and smoky, quite fruity on the nose as well, taste is rounded but in the finish this turns just a bit sour and tannic. This would score higher with me if they lost the wine casks.

Step up from the rather weak 16yo. More robust fruits, strawberries, red fruits and tangerines and hint of spices. Pleasant but not mind blowing.

A bit intrusive and stubborn without water, a nice mainland smoker with water, but still demanding. I like it very much, but I wouldn't need it every day. Price / performance ratio is just about acceptable, but rather borderline.

Pours a fairly dark coppergold. Scent is heavy on oak and maturity , quite a big blast of maltyness as well raw and pure grains and oak ! Taste is quite intense indeed ! Very charred woodyness, a smokey touch that doesn't dominate, and really embraces the whisky. Very malty , oaky sensation in the mouth too. All works so damn well, smooth interaction yet a robust intensity. Perhaps not overly specific on the previous fill of the barrel, nor fruity esters, but surely shines in maturity and balance.

copper. Limited and subtle nose with vanilla at first, older woods and a tiny bit of smoke. After a while, many layers of fruit are added: red currant, orange, apricot and tropical fruit. Limited in body and a fairly light palette with soft spices, woods and citrus. The aftertaste gives oranges and subtle wood spices. You have to put in a lot of effort for the nose, but there is a lot of complexity to discover. Palette and aftertaste are simpler and could give a little more complexity and intensity.

Dark amber color. Oily whisky.

Nose- A little peat, unidentified stone fruits, the savory malts, green grapes, pineapples, malts, fruit jelly, the smell of medicine, the scent of flowers. little bit yogurt - It's kind of like this. Raspberry. On the first day, it was mainly a rough hack and pit, but today it's a little bit yogurtic. According to the first, the volume of the scent is 21 years old, but the more you leave it alone, the weaker it becomes. Overall, it's not just a concentrated smell, but it feels like it's all tangled up. In a bad way, it's blurry, in a good way, Belance. Palette - a bit of spiciness, fruit, malts candy, a bright line of fruit overall. Honestly, the palette is too weak. If you eat it without much thought, it's hard to catch what it tastes like. Considering the intensity of the smell coming from the nose, there's no reason to be this weak on the palette, which is weird. But it's 21 years old, so the taste itself is good. (It means it has a umami.) Finish- A little pit. A little feeble. It's really short. This is 21 years...? It's just... Honestly, if I'm going to buy this, I'll just buy another drink.

BenRiach 21yo The Twenty One, 46%, four cask matured - bourbon, sherry, red wine and virgin. Golden orange-yellow. Aroma is clean, fragrant and fruity to start. Underripe plums, both yellow and red. Some tomato puree, bloody Mary, Worcester sauce and some acrid smoke come in later and then all that weirdness sticks around. No, I don't like it. It’s too savoury and tomato-like on the nose. Could be the red wine casks (which rarely work), or it could be the virgin oak (I get a similar vibe from some ‘craft’ bourbons when very small charred casks are used). Taste is cloves and pink peppercorns up front, salty, soft biscuity wood, 'creamy' oak middle, spicy peppery into the finish. Lingering full oak on the palate, burnt wood. Rising charred wood and black pepper. Tastes pretty good, but unfortunately the aroma lets this one down a lot. 3.4/81

On the nose, rich red wine and fruits that melt under the tongue, blueberries, currants, blackcurrants, Mirabelle plums and plums. Behind, light farm peat which gives thickness and body to the whole. Humus, roots, it's earthy, stony. Cool winter breeze. Quite greedy on the palate, sponge cake, icing sugar, pastry cream, then the spices rise, very tasty, paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ginger, cumin. The finish is also excellent, very deep, on charcoal and fresh earth, but also fruit, prickly pears, lemon zest, lychee. We can say that we spend a very pleasant moment in the company of this beautiful work. The peat is very light, on the other hand, it is really fruity, balanced, and above all original. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2021/11/benriach-twenty-one-21-yo.html

Smoke, chocolate, mineral, citrusy, malty, honey, rhubarb, ginger, nutty. Balanced, good texture, creamy, sweet spices, slightly grainy, medium-bodied, moderate intensity, warming.

Amber color. Oily whisky.

Little smoke in nose Little smoke sweet fruit in mouth Medium aftertaste

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/spotlight-on-benriach-a-world-of-flavour/ Made up of bourbon, sherry, virgin oak, and Bordeaux wine – that’s more casks than blades on a Gillette Mach3! N: I don’t mean to sound surprised, but this is actually very decent. I reckon it’s the wine-cask influence that I’m turning towards most favourably, as well as the dense Ledaig-ish peatiness,… vanilla,.. T: Same cask-driven story again really, but the years have consolidated a tannic > sappy youthful mix into more of a curious soup. And the spirit? It’s somewhere in & around that briny soup. Very straight-ahead in character, the peatiness remains impressively vibrant, even after 21 years. F: Not too long on cask spicy/briny > aromatic radish/rocket heat into ashy dry honeys, barley sugar, vanilla,… However, larger mouthfuls provide a more sustaining energetic fruit-tannin peaty experience. C: Not a dissimilar story to Benriach’s younger models, but I really like the nose. Furthermore, that cask vibrancy coupled with age starts to pay dividends, big time.

Not bad per se, but for a 21 year old I felt it could be a bit more complex. I found the first sip a bit spicy.