Benrinnes 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58,9%

Same June day in 2012, same distillery, same bottler — but an entirely ordinary bourbon hogshead. Here you get Benrinnes without cask tricks: clean spirit, ten years and full strength.

The expert's description

Benrinnes 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a bourbon hogshead and bottled at 58.9 % cask strength.

Cask no. 310545 was filled on 25 June 2012 and emptied on 12 January 2023. The cask yielded 275 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

A hogshead of roughly 250 litres is built from the staves of American bourbon casks, reassembled in a slightly larger format. It strikes a balance between cask influence and spirit character that suits a heavy distillate like Benrinnes' well.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and grainy with green apples, lemon peel and a hint of newly cut hay. The vanilla sits discreetly beneath the fruit.

Palate

Powerful and clean. Barley, honey and pear meet a peppery warmth from the alcohol. There is a rich, almost waxy texture that holds on to the flavour.

Finish

Long, dry and grainy with white pepper and a puff of citrus.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.9%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 58.9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon Hogshead, cask no. 310545
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 25/06/2012
Bottled: 12/01/2023
Number of bottles: 275
EAN no.: 5021944121564

Flavour profile

Cask strength · Fresh · Grainy · Fruity · Clean

Did you know?

The word hogshead has nothing to do with pigs. It comes from the old English hogges hede, a medieval measure for barrels — and a hogshead still holds around 250 litres.

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Frequently asked questions about Benrinnes 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.9%

Why does it taste fresher than its sister release from the same day?

Because the cask is less worked. An ordinary bourbon hogshead gives less toasted sweetness than a dechar/rechar cask, so the spirit's own freshness and grain character stand out more clearly here.

Is 58.9 % too strong for everyday drinking?

It is a strong whisky, but not unpleasant. Pour less than usual and add water to taste. In return you get far more drams from the bottle than you would at 40 %.

What defines Benrinnes as a distillery?

Weight and texture. The worm tubs and the heavy spirit give a mouthfeel that is oilier than the typical light Speyside. That is why the distillery is so sought after for blending.

How many bottles are there?

275. A single hogshead rarely yields more after ten years of evaporation, and that is why single cask bottlings are always small.

What is the angels' share?

The portion of whisky that evaporates through the oak during maturation — around two percent a year in Scotland. After ten years there is noticeably less in the cask than was filled in.

Which glass should I use?

One with a narrow opening, so the alcohol does not hit the nose directly. Have a look at the whisky glasses if you want the best from a cask strength dram.