Review: Benriach 1994 Sauternes Finish 16 Year Old / 57.4% ABV

The first in a series of three BenRiach Sauternes casks.

Benriach 1994 Sauternes Finish 16 Year Old / 57.4% ABV

Tasted neat

This Benriach for the Taiwan market was distilled in 1994 and bottled in March, 2011 after spending 16 years in a Hogshead with a Sauternes Finish of unknown quality and length. This is bottle #16 of 270, from cask 4794.

The label notes read:

Fantastic dessert-like qualities.  Late harvest grapes and sweet sultanas bound with fine American oak characteristics.

• Color: auburn (1.5)
• Nose: solvent, gingerbread, cornmeal biscuits, milk chocolate and peaches
• Taste: minerally white wine grapes, some vanilla, gazpacho, chewy oak, some tannins
• Finish: long, nail polish, cinnamon, and gummy worms

This one is a miss for me, I am not a big fan of candy — bubble gum, gummies — notes in whisky, and this one has a few of those along with some hotness I’d hope not to see in a 16 year old. I’m guessing it was some kind of rejuvenated refilled hogshead before they attempted a save with the Sauternes finish.

Rating: 3/10