BenRiach 17 YO Septendecim

BenRiach 17 YO Septendecim, 46 %

Say hello to the 'BenRiach seventeen year old seventeen'! You see 'Septendecim' is latin for seventeen. Very well, BenRiach 17 YO Septendecim it is then. This is a peated BenRiach expression, and it is now part of their peated core range. Other peated whiskies from BenRiach include the Birnie Moss NAS, Curiositas 10 YO, Authenticus 21 Yo and Authenticus 25 YO.

You can buy the BenRiach 17 YO Septendecim in Norway at NOK 999 (9771601), and online at GBP 41. It appears this whisky is not available to buy in Sweden.

Nose (23/25): Very appealing nose, straight off the bat actually. This is a whisky that is easy to like. The peat is quite pronounced, but it is soft, well integrated, of medium sweetness and of the earthy/woodsy type. Behind the peat and wood smoke there is a soft fruitiness, tempered wooden notes, vanilla and hints of tobacco and old leather.

Taste (22/25): Full and rich mouthfeel. The peat morphs into something a bit more like peppery ashes now. Throw in some spices, definitely ginger, that have been left to smolder in the fireplace over night. Cool and slightly herbal, once we fight our way through the mounds of ashes. Leather and malt.

Finish (20/25): Peppery, somewhat burnt notes now - wood and again spices. this time the spices have been left in the pan a few seconds too long - their singed and smokin'. A tad dry. The finish is a bit too short for me, and I would have loved a bit more sweetness towards teh end, balancing this out.

Balance (21/25): Love the nose! Pity it had to play a bit too long with the fire...

Score (86/100)

Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte! - Thomas