BenRiach is known for their experimentation with a range of casks finishes and their peated barley. This time I taste a BenRiach 22 year old, which is finished in dark rum casks. Now, I can imagine the previous liquid would add something of a colour to the whisky but that is hardly noticeable.
What is not clear is where the casks come from and if anything was added to the previous liquid (I mean to the rum when it was maturing in the cask). As far as I know this is not common practice, but it is customary for some distillers. I sure would like to know a bit more about this. 🙂
This BenRiach has matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in rum casks, bottled at 46% ABV.
BenRiach 22 year old Rum Cask tasting notes:
Nose: The nose is very sweet and reminds me of demerara sugar. Then a few spices, like cloves and cinnamon. The rum influence is clearly present here. Sugared, stewed pineapple. Prunes and dates too. And some kind of concentrated liquor?
Taste: Sweet sugars, cinnamon. It is fruity too, with stewed apples and pineapples. This is followed by chocolate and some black pepper.
Finish: The finish is mid-long with black pepper, some burnt sugar and cloves.
When you are a sweet tooth you will like the first taste of this. But I’m not sure if the BenRiach profile can be found here. It balances too much to the rum finish. The nose starts very, very sweet and nice, but it is loosing some points in the taste and finish. As both taste and finish are rather simple and restrained.
