Benrinnes 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 year old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%

Two bourbon barrels, twelve years and no added colour. Signatory have a habit of staying out of the way and letting the cask do the work — and here the result is a Benrinnes showing its brighter side.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Bourbon Barrels and bottled at 43 %.

Cask no. 800334 and 800335 were filled on 18 September 2008 and bottled on 3 August 2021. The whisky carries its natural colour, and the 43 % keeps it easy to approach without blunting the oak.

Benrinnes normally goes almost entirely into blends for Diageo, and official bottlings are rare. Independent houses such as Signatory therefore provide the access to the distillery's own voice — here in a version where the bourbon cask pulls the whisky towards vanilla and light fruit rather than heavy sherry.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and fresh apples. A lightly grainy sweetness sits under the fruit, reminiscent of porridge oats with syrup.

Palate

Soft and round with vanilla custard, pear and a touch of nutmeg. The oak reads as a dry frame rather than as spice.

Finish

Medium, dry and malty with vanilla slowly fading away.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Barrels, cask no. 800334 and 800335
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 18/09/2008
Bottled: 03/08/2021

Flavour profile

Soft · Vanilla · Fruity · Lightly spiced · Bourbon matured

Did you know?

Signatory's warehouse in Pitlochry sits right next to Edradour Distillery — one of Scotland's smallest distilleries, which Signatory bought in 2002 and still runs by hand.

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Frequently asked questions about Benrinnes 2008/2021 Signatory Vintage 12 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%

Why does bourbon matured whisky taste of vanilla?

Because American white oak contains vanillin, released when the cask is charred on the inside. Bourbon casks may only be used once in the United States, so they are shipped on to Scotland with plenty left to give.

How does this differ from sherry matured Benrinnes?

It is brighter, drier and more fruit driven. Where sherry casks give fig, raisin and dark spice, the bourbon casks here give vanilla, apple and coconut. The weight of the spirit is the same, but the expression is far more open.

Is 43 % enough to carry flavour?

Yes. Strength governs intensity, not quality. At 43 % the whisky is ready to drink, and the cask character stands clearly without alcohol heat getting in the way.

What does natural colour mean?

That no caramel colouring has been added to darken the whisky. The colour comes from the cask alone, and it is therefore an honest clue to the type of cask the whisky rested in.

Does it work as an everyday dram?

Very well. It is soft enough for an ordinary evening and still has enough distillery character to stay interesting. To compare other Scottish single malts, there is a broad selection of Single Malt Whisky.

How many bottles were released?

Signatory do not state the outturn on the label for this release. Two bourbon barrels typically yield somewhere between 400 and 500 bottles, but the exact figure is not confirmed by the bottler.