Benrinnes – 2007/2021 14 Year Old Oloroso Finish (70cl, 57.9%)

This is a 14-year-old Benrinnes, a Speyside single malt distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2021 at 57.9% in a 70cl bottle. It spent its final 20 months of maturation in an Oloroso sherry butt, and the very dry influence of that cask is plain throughout. Water softens the edges and makes the citrus notes stand out more against the cereal sweetness. The nose is sharp and citrusy, with lemon peel and bergamot, a mineral note and a hint of wet wood. On the palate, tannic astringency is balanced by a creamy malty sweetness, and the finish grows steadily spicier.