whisky review 493 - Benriach 25yo single malt @ 50%vol

[@peterlovegrove6118]

As Mark Twain said - 'Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.' Love it!

[@mr.valinch]

Very good an important statement with the honesty! Thank you, Ralfy! I hope that people remember that while putting their marks for older and expensive malts on Whiskybase.

[@AB-cz3uh]

No rutting stags here. Another fantastic review and an interesting perspective on older whiskies. Thanks.

[@foodquig]

Great review! I'm not likely to ever try something at such a price as 130 Lbs, but the standard bottle of 12 year old Benriach that I have is definitely a quality dram. I always drink my whisky with water on the side rather than in the whisky. It does improve my experience...

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Great Review Ralfy. Some really good advice on aged whiskies. Malt Mention, Malty Mutts!

[@andrewjdunbar]

Loving the reviews as always ralphy. Enjoying an auchentoshan three wood while watching, just the one mind!

[@gonzomonstro9260]

Great lecture, thanks Professor Ralfy!

[@Hogibaer]

Hi Ralfy, regarding describing whisky in a manner that is appropriately detailed, yet not coming across as pretentious can be difficult at times. Especially newbies sometimes consider all additional info bs, because they can't imagine the diversity in smell and taste, plus it's an acquired taste after all. But coming across as down to earth and understanding certainly helps. Also reminds me of a friend's experience at a wine tasting where some "expert" labeled a particular wine as tasting(!) like cat piss. Hmm... :-)

[@rossfudd256]

Good to see you doing some old ones Ralfy. Had a chance to taste the new JW Gold NAS, followed by a JW Black. Wow, the Black was so much better! Just wish they'd had the Double Black to try as well.

[@mirqo9657]

I like this style of review malt mate. No rush, no hurry, nice and contemplative..no need to be fast just because all those neoliberal idiots are persuading us to become a self managable fast driven projects instead of what we actually are..fragile beings with fragile results..just like with older versions of whiskies. Cheers!

[@sailboatsandwine]

Always look forward to your reviews Ralfy.

[@michaellynch1589]

Educational for a new whisky drinker such as myself. Why is it after october its going to go down hill a bit?

[@sebastianmeyer6768]

Great review as always. I couln't agree more. Been enjoying whisky for about 1 1/2 years now. I had my first taste of 25yr old Glenfarclas (from a miniture) and have to honestly say that i'm not sure that i get more out of it then from a quality 18yr old. Don't get me wrong it was a delicious dram, but i guess i still need a bit of time to develop my palate.

[@touretul]

as a young malt drinker, after I tried a couple of 10 and 12 yo (some 8 yo bourbon) I still have to get into the 15-17 yo range. I think at some Glendronach, Glenfarclas, maybe a Bruichladdich 16.

[@MillszAFC]

Hi Ralfy. What do you base your opinions on that the Whisky bubble is about to burst? I can't wait for that day and prices start to come down or at least stop rising so fast.

[@michaellynch1589]

I want hear more on this too. Hopefully in the next review.

[@kubr1ck36]

I'd be very interested to hear you elaborate your opinion on that subject.!!

[@Malt454]

I’m curious about this as well, and what signs are being seen in the sand. In what sense is the “bubble bursting”, and for whom? For producers who are going to see the bottom drop out of an overheated market, or for consumers, who are going to see affordable quality put further out of reach BY that overheated market? It does matter, because tragedy for the one serves as a benefit for the other, and Ralfy seems to be talking about the second case, not the first.

[@maltfusion6743]

There are still ways to go - I was just reading an old booklet from ancient Whiskymag that says Ardbeg 17yo 35£ 'shakes head in disbelief'.

[@scobev]

Fascinating as always! I really enjoy your reviews & I'm learning so much from them. I have 2 BenRiachs, a 16 yo & 10 yo. I've not tried the 10 yet, but the 16 is wonderful. Have you tried the 16 yo? And if so, have u ever reviewed it?

[@briand2507]

Thinking that great 18-21s might be better than gambling on 25-30s Picked up a Glengoyne 18 and Glendronach 21 for that reason. I also thought the BenRiach 12 was a bit odd, just ok, interesting enough to try older, but unsure.

[@miserablerhurensohn]

A friend gave me some 27 yo Japanese whisky which is the oldest I ever had but I have never bought anything past 18 year old. The prices are still reasonable and there is still a good interaction between spirit and cask.

[@z1reticuli]

I thought nothing could beat Talisker or Laphroiag, until BENRIACH!!

[@ATolsk1]

Hi Ralfy. Have you heard of the whisky-gate in Finland?

[@nwhittle]

Great review as always Ralfy. I have a query that perhaps you or others could help me out with. I currently have a 20 ltr barrel at home which is ageing some beautiful Seppeltsfield Barossa Port, i've decided though that i'd like to bottle this and attempt to age some whisky in the Barrel instead. Unfortunately (as you've mentioned in prior reviews) the tax on Alcohol here in Australia is just ridiculous so buying new make spirit from a Distillery here is far too expensive (pushing $80 -90 per litre). My question is whether it would be worthwhile filling the barrel with already bottled (perhaps slightly immature) scotch? If so, do you or anyone else here have any recommendations of a relatively cheap whisky which would benefit from further ageing in a Port cask? Thanks so much

[@jerinmathew4425]

Hey Ralfy. Have you had an opportunity to try the Grants 12 year old whisky?? If you have, whats your take on it?? Cheers.

[@Ivo--]

Hi Ralfy, what in your opinion is the best whisky festival in Europe?

[@zeusminator]

Another 50% vol is Cutty Sark Prohibition, did you try it? By the way, cutty sark Storm's video (336) doen't exist anymore, what happend?

[@hellespont5072]

Hi Ralfy! Have you tried Buffalo Trace's Experimental versions "made with oats" & "made with rice"? They seem a little bit pricey but I'm very curious to know good they are! Cheers

[@WalterVojta]

what happend to the sound´? Micro broken?

[@erikjlee1]

So how much did you pay for this one? Or did I miss that part...

[@Eagle93Writer]

As much as i know its around 150 Euro

[@thewhiskybothy]

Erik Lee £130

[@oldfarmshow]

Thank you for your review #493

[@thewhiskybothy]

yup ! . . . changed as soon as spotted !

[@PeatSmokey]

Any time for a mini series on good budget malts?? Not too many of us have "This" kind of disposable income Ralfy. Dont know about Scotland but money still aint easy to come by here in the USA. Peace

[@PeatSmokey]

***** for the snot that appears to be drizzling from your brains?? need to get that checked Seinfeld.

[@maltfusion6743]

You get no sympathy from me since you can walk to any bodega and buy the best the bourbon industry can provide. And on top of that you can enjoy the fine U.S microbrews that we scandinavians will never see.

[@redrich2000]

$350 down-under :-( The glendronach parliament has got to be one of the best value older whiskies, goes $160 down here. Is it any good?

[@Dafoodmaster]

it's great, but i dont have to tell you that at this point

[@BananaBoat629]

how much did you pay for it?

[@RadioLaboratory]

Long tym no coment Ralfstr. bin doing the bourbon trail but heres a MM to grace yur impendin acomplshmn in2 WR500. Malted-Monumental-Milestones. EZ duz it Ralfy. cheerio

[@RadioLaboratory]

Hey Ralfy. L1/4cask on spec. @ 51USD ths mo. salnz lyk a deal but watayathnk?? ...tried LQC lately?? L8r

[@Scy]

Pretty tight casks if they manage 50% after 25 years, wouldn't you say?

[@thewhiskybothy]

athox the 2% annual angels share is only a duty calculator benchmark.

[@antoinem9411]

***** i have a Caol Ila 26 years old at over 60%. isnt it also some kind of butt covering marketing wise? if the whisky comes out of the cask at even 47% they can still claim "cask strength".

[@thewhiskybothy]

correct !

[@irishboy2k10]

Price of Laphroaig in France 5 years ago was 25 Euros, they have added 2 per year since then :/ For anyone who does not know about auctions, it is a crime to bid on your own items...the winning bid gets the item obviously; however if the person finds they can sue you for the full price of the item and still keep it.

[@yueseiyunosakurakonan6082]

Single Malt goes good with blended malt.

[@tollickd]

I feel the only way to avoid the bubble from bursting is to stop producing NAS bottles and focus on good well aged in good oak at a price that people can afford.

[@jerinmathew4425]

malt marching musical mongrels !! :)

[@mirqo9657]

One review recomm: blended NIKKA "From the barrell" (51.4%). Affordable and very interesting. Bye.

[@bbasidium7018]

Is it my wax filled old ears, or does Ralfy sound like he is in a tunnel? I enjoy listening no matter. Better than the bossy single malt ole lady.

[@Malt454]

As Ralfy says at the outset, it’s the information on the label that counts, not internet rumours and hearsay. Catering to the collectors’/speculators’ market works against the interests of the average consumer, but nowhere is this more evident in the industry than in its manipulation of labels and production information. The industry’s use of NAS wants to make every Gaelic-named non-descript “limited release” some kind of “event” while “premiumizing” age-statement products through the increasing “rarity” of any willingness on the part of the distillery to tell you anything about it beyond fuzzy adjectives. There is NOTHING that is going to make consumers pay more for remaining age statements, at all levels of purchase, than the calculated removal OF age statements with NAS expressions. Like Ralfy, I like the range of whisky experience offered by young and old products but, first and foremost, I like to know what I’m paying for, and if the products ARE, in fact, young or old. Boycott NAS!

[@maltfusion6743]

You are preaching to the choir my malty friend but I have to make a point. NAS is an absolute con job when it comes to whiskies which are marketed to be top shelf stuff that go for 50€+ but if you are looking for absolute bargains the infamous NAS is your friend also. For my barbarian peaty moments nothing works like CS Finlaggan which may be rocket fuel or kerosine but it ticks the right boxes and for my inexpensive japanese moments I will always turn to Nikka From The Barrel which costs nothing and I have no idea what's in it.

[@Malt454]

Maltfusion Thanks for the reply. They might (or might not) be good enough whiskies, but they aren't made any better, or any cheaper - given what is (or isn't) in them, who knows? - for their lack of an age statement and being NAS. If you, in fact, knew the age, or average age, of what you were drinking, you might not think of it as such a bargain, particularly if it's going to make your next age-statement purchase cost more. Ignorance isn't bliss in this case, and NAS only allows for future product debasement, while acclimatizing people to the idea that they don't need to know what's in their glass. No matter how cheap, or good, it is, if it comes with a label, it should come with product information - including age - not just a funny name and a fanciful story. NAS, only a type of marketing, NOT a type of whisky, does nothing for you.

[@maltfusion6743]

Malt454 I'm at peace with the fact that Finlaggan CS is 6yo at best but you are right when I take out my wallet for the good stuff age statement is a must and that's precisely the reason I have been bingeing on independent bottlings for the last 3 years or so. And furthermore the quality of aged official bottling have been plunging like crazy take Highland Park for example. No shame.

[@Malt454]

Maltfusion I guess my argument would be that at least part of the reason you're "at peace with the fact that Finlaggan CS is 6yo at best" is because that's what you tell yourself, because there IS no telling what's in it, or what will be in it tomorrow, so it’s not really “a fact” in the first place. I would agree that the quality of age statements is slipping in many quarters, but that's no argument against having age statements on the bottles. Regardless of its casking or achievement, an HP 12 has 12 years behind it. How does not knowing the age of an HP NAS help you? Removed from the context of its age and cost of production, if only through loss by angels' share, where is the evidence that it's cheaper, or better, than it would otherwise be because it bears no age statement?

[@maltfusion6743]

Malt454 Oh no I wasn't promoting turning HP's into NAS bottlings (we already have the fuck you Viking range) I was just saying the Edrington is putting so much emphasis on blends that old faithfuls HP 12 and 18 have plummeted in an embarrassing way.

[@bertdol9071]

Not first!

[@briand2507]

2,144th!

[@gummybearkiller1]

hahahahaha Second second second?

[@Mizernyi]

First

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . verified !

[@danieltubio-rey1984]

First

[@dennishibbins8610]

First