Benriach – 10 Year Old The Original Ten (70cl, 43%)

Benriach The Original Ten is a 10 year old Speyside single malt, bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle and sold in a pale blue tube. Its summer-gold colour comes from the casks alone. Three types of cask are involved: bourbon barrels, sherry casks and virgin oak. The whiskies each mature for at least ten years before they are married together. It recalls the first Benriach single malt, released in 1994, also at ten years old, whose strong malt character inspired master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. The nose offers orchard fruit, honey and toasted oak. On the palate come ripe pear, nectarine and sweet malt, and the finish leaves almonds and spicy vanilla.