Benrinnes 2008/2022 Valinch & Mallet 14 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52,1%

Italians have a different patience with whisky. Valinch & Mallet tend to leave the casks a couple of years longer than the British would — and The Young Masters Edition is exactly the range where they show what that extra time does.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2008/2022 Valinch & Mallet 14 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a bourbon cask and bottled at 52.1 % cask strength.

Cask no. 304405 was filled in 2008 and emptied in 2022 as a single cask in The Young Masters Edition. The cask yielded 323 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Valinch & Mallet was founded in Italy and quickly worked its way into the group of bottlers people pay attention to — the house was named Scotland's best independent bottler in 2022. Their selection favours casks with clear distillery character over casks that are merely dark.

Tasting notes

Nose

Wax, light honey and peeled apple. A cool mineral streak runs beneath the fruit, with a touch of coconut from the bourbon wood.

Palate

Powerful and oily with barley, vanilla and lemon meringue. The 52.1 % pushes, but the weight of the spirit carries the alcohol, and the texture stays rich throughout.

Finish

Long and warm with pepper, toasted barley and a dry oak edge.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2008/2022 Valinch & Mallet 14 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.1%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52.1 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask, cask no. 304405
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 323
Edition: The Young Masters Edition
EAN no.: 5060637450840

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Waxy · Fruity · Spicy · Clean

Investment potential

Medium: A single cask at full strength with only 323 bottles from a distillery that barely exists as an official release. Valinch & Mallet have drawn increasing attention since the 2022 award, and the house's older ranges are hard to track down.

Did you know?

The name Valinch comes from the copper tube, called a valinch, used to draw samples from a cask. Without that tool no bottler could taste their way to the right moment.

See our full range of Benrinnes
See our full range of Valinch & Mallet

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Benrinnes 2008/2022 Valinch & Mallet 14 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.1%

What is The Young Masters Edition?

Valinch & Mallet's range for younger single casks, typically between 8 and 15 years, selected because the cask already has something to say. The range shows the spirit more directly than the house's older, more cask driven releases.

What does cask strength mean?

That the whisky is bottled at the alcohol level it held in the cask — here 52.1 % — without dilution. You get the whisky exactly as it came out of the oak.

How do I find the right amount of water?

Taste it neat, then add a single drop at a time and taste again. There is a point where the nose suddenly opens up — that point is personal, and it is why cask strength is more fun than a pre-diluted bottle.

Is it worth investing in?

Rarity argues in its favour. 323 bottles from one cask, a distillery without an official range and a bottling house with growing recognition is a combination that has historically held its value. Buy it mainly because you want to drink it, though.

Why is it not dark in colour?

Because it rested in a bourbon cask and has not been coloured with caramel. Pale colour says nothing about intensity — there is plenty of flavour here, it simply has not been dressed up.

Which glass do you recommend?

A glass with a narrow opening gathers the volatile aromas, which matters especially at cask strength. Have a look at the whisky glasses if you want the full benefit.