BenRiach 1983 Cask #298 (KWM Exclusive)

44.2% abv

Score:  92/100

Oh, wow.  Here we go again.  Nice to see that some of the magic this distillery captured in the ’70s is spilling over into the ’80s.  As those older expressions become more and more scarce, seeing this transferrance of quality bodes well for future ‘well-aged’ malts to come from BenRiach.

This 1983, exclusive to Calgary’s Kensington Wine Market, is a prime example.  Closing in on 30 years old, this whisky is a fruit bomb in a bottle.  Quite frankly, I’m a little surprised to see such a bevy of tropical notes coming out of this decade.  This is a characteristic I’ve most closely associated with a past age culminating primarily in the 1970s.  Goes to show that good spirit in good wood = great whisky.

In a recent whisky club event, this one went head-to-head with eight other rather exceptional BenRiach single casks and, at the end, was one of the overwhelming favorites, beating out older whiskies and showing aruably the greatest cask influence.  Good cask selection from the fine folk at KWM.

In the photo above, this release is the fourth from the left.

Nose:  Orange is the primary fruit, followed by pineapple, but there’s a Carmen Miranda fruit hat worth of sweetness here.  Notes of Cinnzeo cinnamon buns.  Honeydew and cantaloupe.  The creamiest of high quality French vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel.  Touch of cherry too, much like a topping for the afore-mentioned sundae.  A mate mentioned maple syrup in his tasting notes, and I can see it.  A beautifully mature and balanced nose.

Palate:  Fruit salad in syrup.  The melons again.  A touch of cinnamon here too with a bit of oak (kinda like those cinnamon toothpicks).  Dulce de leche.  Coconut and pineapple with a little pepper.  Delicate, but still assertive.  DO NOT ADD WATER.

Closing thoughts…

Let me be crude for a moment:  This is a fucking great price for this whisky.  Go see Andrew down at Kensington Wine Market for one of these before they’re gone.  I know that at this point there are only a couple dozen left out of a total 233 bottles.  $200 for this bottle is an absolute steal.

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Curt