Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 36.96

SMWS Code: 36.96
Code Name: “Chocolate cake cookie”
Distillery: Benrinnes
Age: 9 years
Cask: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Appearance: 0.3, Pale Gold

Nose: Up front mint and menthol, vanilla, some white cake, powdered sugar, apple and pear, peppery oak. A bit one dimensional.

Taste: Quite spicy and youthful on the arrival, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, apple, pear, pineapple, white pepper, lemon zest, lemon custard. Great mouth feel and weight.

Finish: Spice and oak, vanilla and white fruit. Not overly long.

Notes: This might be a bold statement, but I think this is the best 10 year old or younger bourbon matured Scotch whisky I’ve ever had. It just had a fantastic weight to it, and despite it’s youthful vigor, it doesn’t hit me as harsh. A lovely punch of zest, along with white fruit and your classic ex-bourbon cask influence, but with a full body to it. Great stuff.

Score: 86/100