THE EXOTIC PERFECTION – Score: 10/10
BenRiach (or rather should we now write Benriach, since Rachel Barrie took the helm) was a “draft” distillery for Billy Walker, who used it as a guinea pig for his gustatory experiments.
This resulted in the distillery becoming unstable in terms of quality. The best as well as the worst could emerge from its warehouses.
Therefore, opening a bottle of BenRiach costing over a thousand euros is a major risk one takes. This 1976 BenRiach was aged for 33 years in first-fill bourbon casks and is bottled at 53.2%.
I crossed my fingers as I brought the glass to my lips, but my fears quickly subsided, giving way to divine rapture.
Exotic fruits explode on the palate, whirling in a wild dance of pineapple, coconut, mango… A gustatory orgasm overwhelms my senses as the finish stretches endlessly between almonds and anise.
A rare satisfaction paints a blissful smile on my face, transported by the perfection of this elixir.
