Benrinnes Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 3 Madeira Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 44,5%

At the foot of Ben Rinnes in Speyside sits a distillery that rarely gets top billing. Benrinnes mostly fills casks bound for blends, not bottles with its own name on the label. So when the spirit does step out on its own, it's worth paying attention.

Expert description

Benrinnes Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 3 Madeira Finish is a Speyside Single Malt Whisky finished in Madeira casks and bottled at 44.5%.

The bottle belongs to Murray McDavid's Cask Craft series, where the independent bottler puts the cask itself in the spotlight rather than the age statement. This Benrinnes spirit has been moved into Madeira barriques from Justino's in Madeira, batch #MAD-03, letting the sweet, oxidative wine notes work their way into the whisky. There's no age statement on the label, and the whisky is bottled without chill filtration or added colouring, so what's in the glass is exactly what came out of the cask.

Benrinnes distillery mostly supplies spirit for blends such as Johnnie Walker and J&B, and official single malt releases from the distillery are few and far between. That makes this Madeira finish a rare chance to meet the distillery's character on its own, without sharing the stage with other malts in a blend.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Redcurrants and orange blossom arrive first, followed by honeyed cereal and a touch of stone fruit.

Palate

Creamy caramel with a hint of honey, while sweet spice and ripe orange unfold as it opens up.

Finish

Medium length, with vanilla, floral honey and a last trace of what the Madeira cask has given along the way.

Specifications

Name: Benrinnes Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 3 Madeira Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 44.5%
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Madeira barrique from Justino's, Madeira (finish, batch #MAD-03)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Cask Craft Batch 3
EAN: 5060353304793

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Floral · Sweet · Spicy

Did you know?

Until 2007, Benrinnes used an unusual distillation method with six stills — two wash stills, two intermediate stills and two spirit stills — cooled by old-fashioned worm tubs rather than modern condensers. The method produced a heavier, more sulphury spirit, but was dropped in favour of conventional double distillation when the distillery was expanded.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Benrinnes Murray McDavid Craft Cask Batch 3 Madeira Finish

What does Benrinnes Madeira Finish taste like?

It offers redcurrants, orange blossom and honeyed cereal on the nose, with creamy caramel and sweet spice on the palate. The Madeira cask brings a rounded, gently oxidative sweetness without overpowering the Benrinnes character underneath.

What is Murray McDavid's Cask Craft series?

Cask Craft is Murray McDavid's series in which single malts from across Scotland are finished in specially selected casks to show just how much difference the wood makes. Each bottle is named after both the distillery and the cask type, so you know exactly what you're getting.

Why is there no age statement on the bottle?

Murray McDavid has chosen to put the focus on the cask's influence rather than the number of years in the warehouse, so the whisky is bottled without an age statement. It says nothing about quality, only that the maturation period isn't disclosed.

Should Benrinnes Madeira Finish be drunk neat or with water?

At 44.5%, the whisky works well neat, but a splash of cold water can open up more of the floral and fruity notes. Ice isn't recommended, as it mutes both the aroma and the flavour.

What glass suits this whisky best?

A tulip-shaped nosing glass such as a Glencairn glass concentrates the aromas best and gives the fullest impression of what the Madeira cask has added.

Why are there so few official single malt releases from Benrinnes?

Benrinnes mainly produces spirit for blends such as Johnnie Walker, with only a small share set aside for its own bottlings. That makes independent releases like this one one of the few chances to taste the distillery on its own.