Benriach Cask Edition Reaches the U.S.

Benriach Distillery has announced the arrival of Benriach Cask Edition, the first single cask single malt Scotch whisky bottlings ever available in the U.S. from the distillery.

Each of these three expressions exclusive to America come from individual casks selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie.

Limited to a few hundred bottles per cask, each whisky is bottled at cask strength. Age statements range from 12 to 27 years old. 

“Our ‘sleeping beauties’, as we often call these casks, continue to be sourced from all over the world, enabling us to creatively explore the full flavor possibilities of Speyside single malt,” says Barrie. “Each cask will tell its own story of a journey of flavor where the spirit is married with oak, over years and through the seasons, to really create a unique moment in time never to be repeated again.” 

“From the Marsala Wine Hogshead cask bringing out clementine, apricot, nectarine and cherry blossom flavors, to the Pedro Ximénez Puncheon with intense notes of heather honey, butterscotch and sultana, each cask allows us to explore a different aspect of Benriach’s fruit-laden character,” she adds.

For the first time ever, each of the three expressions will release to select markets across the country.

Each bottle draws its natural color from the cask in which it rests. The three expressions include (with company-provided tasting notes):

2009 (12 Year) – Cask #3812: Pedro Ximénez Puncheon

58.2% ABV, $100 suggested retail price per 700-ml. bottleColor: Antique goldNose: Toasted raisin brioche, with layers of butter, sultana and orange marmaladePalate: Heather honey, butterscotch and lemon curd on sultana and hazelnut breadTotal number of bottles: 642Available markets: CA, KY, OR, WA, GA, MA, NY

1998 (23 Year) – Cask #10297: Marsala

55.4% ABV, $330 suggested retail price per 700-ml. bottleColor: Polished brassNose: Clementine, apricot, nectarine and cherry blossom, with maple and vanilla syrupPalate: Orange and honey glazed chocolate cake with apricot and redcurrant jellyTotal number of bottles: 264Available markets: AZ, CO, IL, DE, DC, FL, MD, MN, NV, PA, SC, WI

1997 (24 Year) – Cask #15058: Oloroso Puncheon

55.4% ABV, $380 suggested retail price per 700-ml. bottleColor: MahoganyNose: Crème brûlée with hazelnut and toasted vanilla on a base of cedarwood, spiced apple and mochaPalate: Chocolate orange and hazelnut cake with raisins, dried apple, apricot and sultanaTotal number of bottles: 641Available markets: GA, MA, NY and additional major metro markets 

This follows the release of Benriach Malting, Smoke Season scotch whiskies.The post Benriach Cask Edition Reaches the U.S. first appeared on Beverage Dynamics.
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Author: Kyle Swartz