Here is a delightful bottle of BenRiach, aged 9 years in 2nd fill ex-Bourbon barrels, offered as "Cutting the Cake" from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS). I have no previous experience with BenRiach, but after sampling this I definitely will look into them more deeply. The core spirit here is obvious high quality and full of flavor. Offered at 58.5% ABV, part of the SMWS "Sweet, Fruity, and Mellow" series... Let's explore...
Nose: Absolutely delectable, a richly floral and fruity nose. Fleshy pear, subtle floral perfume (lavender? rose? jasmine?), candied almonds. With a splash of water or two, the pear achieves prominence.
Mouthfeel: Thin, washy.
Palate: Spicy! Cooked pear, baking spices like cinnamon, perhaps ginger, and brown sugar, more of the floral aspect, and delicate drying wood tannins. The first half, taken together, is like pear spice cake (hence the bottle's nickname, I suppose). The latter half reminds me of unpeated Bowmore, and is a perfect counterpart to the sweetness of the pear and sugar.
Finish: The fruit and the wood hold out for a medium-short finish that evaporates in your mouth like soda fizz. Amazing.
Verdict: Well, I'm officially a BenRiach fan. If this is the independent bottling version of them, I can only imagine what the official stuff is like... and some of it is peated! A great Speyside find. If you can get your hands on any of SMWS 12.47, I highly recommend this sweet-yet-spicy bottle. Really great.
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