Produced in Speyside, Scotland, Benriach The Thirty 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky undergoes four cask maturation in sherry casks, bourbon barrels, virgin oak casks and port casks from the Douro Valley for 30 years. This peated whisky retails for over $800.
The leathery, Old Spice notes driven by the PX sherry take a front seat on the nose, but the palate finds room for some fruit to creep in, showing off caramelized apples and bananas before a note of cigar box hits on the finish. There’s more peat on the reprise, but it’s mild and sedate, working well with what’s come before.
The palate offers flavors of cooked berries and baked apple, along with candle wax, dark chocolate, and roasted espresso beans. It all finishes with rich chocolate, old spice rack, and a parting note of ashy peat. A complete whisky.
The bright headiness of this expression emerges after the first, almost (delightfully) violent impact. If a symphony is for the ears, then this is a whisky for the tastebuds. At the price point, obtaining this bottle would be a stretch for many, but is not entirely inaccessible and compares favorably to Scotches of similar age. It would be a worthy addition to any budding or established collection.
I adore the nose, which has some unique touches and a superb elegance to it. On the palate it feels much thinner than the others, with more leathery dryness. A really great profile.
