Benrinnes 1996/2022 Signatory 25 year old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 53,2%

Twenty-five winters on the slope of Ben Rinnes leave a mark on a spirit. The heavy, meaty distillate the distillery is known for has had time to settle and spread out. This is a bottle that smells of old warehouses and damp oak floors.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 1996/2022 Signatory 25 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in hogsheads and bottled at 53.2 % cask strength.

Signatory Vintage filled two hogsheads, cask no. 11712 and 11716, on 28 October 1996 and emptied them again on 18 January 2022. The result was 537 bottles for the Cask Strength Collection, the range where Signatory lets the cask speak without water and without filtration. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Until 2007 Benrinnes ran an unusual partial triple distillation, and the entire production still passes through worm tubs sunk in cold water outside. That gives a spirit with weight and an almost meaty texture — exactly the kind of body that can carry a quarter of a century in oak without tiring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Old oak, dried apricot and a dry nuttiness reminiscent of walnut shells. Underneath sit honey, a little cinnamon bark and a faint oily note that only comes with age.

Palate

Full and warm from the first sip. Malt, dark orange marmalade and caramelised sugar meet a peppery edge from the oak. The 53.2 % pushes, but it is never harsh — a few drops of water open a fruity core of baked apple.

Finish

Long and dry with toasted malt, tobacco leaf and a layer of spiced oak that lingers. It ends where many younger whiskies have run out of things to say.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 1996/2022 Signatory 25 years old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 53.2%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 53.2 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads, cask no. 11712 and 11716
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28/10/1996
Bottled: 18/01/2022
Number of bottles: 537
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Mature · Spicy · Nutty · Cask strength · Dry oak

Investment potential

Medium: Only 537 bottles from a distillery that is rarely released officially at this age. The Cask Strength Collection is sought after by collectors, and 1996 vintages from Benrinnes are becoming harder to find.

Did you know?

The distillery sits at the foot of the mountain Ben Rinnes, but the original 1826 site was washed away by a flood only three years later. More than one Benrinnes has stood on that slope.

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Frequently asked questions about Benrinnes 1996/2022 Signatory 25 years old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 53.2%

What makes Benrinnes 25 years different from younger bottlings?

Age changes the structure. Where a 10 to 12 year old Benrinnes is still fruity and forward, the 25 year old is broader and drier, with old oak, nuts and dried fruit up front. The heavy spirit from the worm tubs survives the long maturation without disappearing into the wood.

Is it worth the money?

Yes, if you are after maturity and rarity. 537 bottles from two single casks, bottled at full cask strength without chill filtration or colouring, is not something you come across often. Benrinnes also goes almost entirely into blends, so independent bottlings at this age are genuinely scarce.

Is it smoky?

No. Benrinnes is unpeated. The weight in the whisky comes from distillation and worm tubs, not from peat smoke. If you are looking for smoke, head towards Islay Whisky instead.

How is a cask strength whisky best served?

Pour a small measure and taste it neat first. Then add water drop by drop until the nose opens up. A tulip-shaped glass helps — have a look at the whisky glasses if you need one.

Who is Signatory Vintage?

Signatory Vintage is an independent bottling house founded in 1988 and based in Pitlochry. They buy casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottle them under their own name. Since 2002 they have also owned Edradour Distillery.

Does it work as a gift for an experienced whisky drinker?

Very well. A 25 year old single cask at full strength hits exactly what an experienced drinker looks for: age, rarity and a name that is not on every supermarket shelf. It arrives in Signatory's familiar bottle shape, which is easy to recognise.

How should I store the bottle?

Upright, dark and at room temperature. Whisky does not develop in the bottle the way wine does, but light and heat wear on colour and aroma. Once opened, it keeps best when there is not too much air left above the liquid.