BenRiach 10-year-old

Quick hit review. After the recent rebranding, BenRiach 10 seems to compete with the likes of Glenfiddich and Glenlivet. On the nose, lemon zest, peach and mild spices make an appearance. Clean but one-dimensional is the name of the game. The light arrival features more citrus fruits, some herbs and a touch of oak. It's quaffable, simple and without any off-notes. Apples, pears and black tea mark the short finish. An easy sipper, certainly not bad for the price. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]

A great aperitif.

October 2021 Pours a clear, light pale gold. Scent is higher in alcohol than expected. Sharp, woody, some cinnamon almost, by the wood. Very bright, but a tad 'generic' perhaps. Taste is sharp, strong booze presence . Mild vaniline, strong wood (tad drying) . A nice - rather generic perhaps - whisky. Maltyness remains quite full. Enjoyable. 73/100 November 2021 - Rerate @ spirits in the sky. Perceived a bit more fruityness now, not much else different to the original rating. Did score it a bit higher at this time ( 76/100) . Merging both to 74/100 (giving the adventage to the seperate degustation rather than the festival and it's palate fatigue )

Cereal notes and a mealy apple can be found on the nose. In the mouth I find a nice sweet and a fruity apple with light caramel. Slightly better in the mouth than in the nose. Nice light and fruity whisky

Not very interesting. Light and okay balanced. Sherry is mostly in the nose

A bit rigid, opens up with airing, pleasantly sweet, spicy.

80/100

Honey, grass, melon, orchard fruits, earth, vanilla, oak. Slightly savoury, especially on the palate. A touch of nutmeg. Very subtle smoke in the background. A drop of water opens it up nicely. Nothing outstanding, but very tasty and great value.

Light golden colour. Pretty oily whisky.

The distinct taste of fruit, apricots and nectarines smoothly turns into the aftertaste of almonds, honey and vanilla.

Eye: light-amber like Nose: involatile, feels like "behind the wall", dried fruits, fruits overall, little of burnt wood and delicate smoke Palate: At first delicate, but intense sweetness, followed by spicy warmth, fruity, a bit oily and delicately maritime Finish: Mildy long, but very enjoyable, sweet and fruity Overall I would feinitely recommend this whisky as a dessert-time one.

Bright color. Whisky is not oily.

The renewed version of the classic ten y.o. by Benriach is focused on the three different cask types used for getting the final result. Sherry influence is clear on the nose, offering rich sweet fruity notes, while virgin oak and bourbon casks quickly become predominant on the palate. While the first one is pleasantly warming and quite typical for the Speyside distillery, the latter turn out into a flavour profile a bit flat, with lots of wood notes overwhelming the basic honey sweetness of the malt and even traces of sharpness despite the 43 abv. Even if the previous version (which I enjoyed much: 84/100) is an obvious comparison, it seems that’s not only a matter of label that make this one different. The three woods experiment steps this one for sure a bit aside from the “typical Speyside”, but after a promising nose the overall outcome is a bit too flat and weak in character, yet not unpleasant. Easy, unchallenging drink, suitable for a relaxed summer evening.

This was a gift. Nice to revisit Benriach. Gentle Speyside. Apricot, peach, bit of spice, then almonds. Am I dreaming or is there the tinniest hint of smoke? For sure it’s not enough to stretch this one from a flat dimension - or maybe it’s too subtle for my taste.

An allround Speysider with a good nose but a weaker palate. The virgin oak clearly makes its mark. I like it less than the previous incarnation of the 10 years old (WB 81935).

Interestingly, the use of different barrels brought a lot of cool things, which you can appreciate little by little to open up the layers. Easy to drink, it is more complex than anCnon 12 (still preferred, as it does not contain cooked vegetables), but less citrusy. To discover a well-made and typically ex-bourbon single malt with the touch of virgin oak, without influences of peat or sherry.

Smell: fruity nose, German fruit brandy notes, pear in alcohol, light fruity, malty, alcohol well integrated Taste: yellow fruit again, fine spice tones, nice balance, pome fruit, medium aftertaste Colour: amber, medium water rim, clear Conclusion: A nice sipper with a slightly higher drinking strength - uncomplicated and yet not profane ...

Taking the price into account, this whisky offers some complexity and development that isn't found that often in the 30/35euros range. So well done Benriach. Recommended. In the same league as the new Arran 10 for me.

Tasted as part of The Whisky Shop Advent Calendar 2024. Not complex, but it is an enjoyable dram. The question is, do you have time for a boring malt?

Does not stand out in any direction, but pleasant in aroma and taste. Nice whisky

It has a solid taste but isn't very sophisticated. Three-cask maturation makes it a little undefinable, but not in a good way, generally. At the end of the day, this is sweet-forward, with dark fruit on the nose and in the mouth, and a medium-finish whisky. Not at its best, but it’s still a good daily sipper.

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/spotlight-on-benriach-a-world-of-flavour/ The 10yo is made up from bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and virgin oak – unsurprisingly perhaps, much like Billy Walker’s current Glenallachie’s then. N: Crisp, sweetish, sawdusty, a hint of peat,.. not a great deal else to see. T: Starting crisp yet watery, it moves swiftly towards a briny sawn woodiness that is brought on, we are told, by virgin casks that Benriach has been utilising as a part of its maturation program since the 1980s. The honeyed fruit sweet notes that our host [Stewart Buchanan] suggests we look out for here, are overshadowed on this occasion by our [superior] warm-up dram – Glenmorangie’s ‘Original’ 10. F: Light brine, sawdusty, drying,… C: Though not particularly kind on the palate, overall, it’s decent enough. Thank goodness for the peat.

Meh! Afaik it lost a big part of what makes BenRiach's distillate stand out from the rest. Not bad, the new 10 but there's plenty of alternatives leaving this one a bit faceless. P.S. New bottle shape is fine but are kinda ... meh. ;-)

An uncomplicated, young and slightly rough whisky with an excessive malt component.

Benriach The Original Ten Category: Single Malt Manufacturer and bottler: Benriach Distillery (Brown-Forman) Region: Speyside Fortress: 43% Volume: 700 ml Bottling date: 02.08.2021 Barrel type: Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Casks & Virgin Oak Min. exposure: 10 years Filtering: no Dye: none Nose. Flower honey, slight haze, malt (wet breadcrumbs), salted caramel, melted butter, citrus peel, overripe yellow pears, dried banana pieces, candied nectarines and apricots, almonds, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla. All three types of barrels worked well, each giving the whisky something different (bourbon - honey and citrus, sherry - fruits, virgin oak - spices). The end result is a nice medium-intensity sweet almost mature typical Speyside profile. Taste. It starts with sweet honey, caramel and citrus fruits, then vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and fresh wood are added (spices and wood feel a little too much - they give not very pleasant, bitter, overly intense "rough" tannins), fruits (apples , pears, bananas, nectarines and apricots) appear in the background, then appearing, then disappearing again. There is no smoky flavor at all. In my subjective, unpretentious view, the blend master went a little too far with intense virgin oak barrels - they clearly dominate the taste, the influence of bourbon barrels is also very obvious, but sherry ones are lost here - they “play” more in aromatics. Aftertaste. Medium duration. Dry and slightly bitter. Salted almonds, spices, wood, yellow dried apricots (the sherry cask “played back” a bit here). Summary. An interesting example of whisky from Speyside. Not entirely smoothly cut for my taste (virgin oak casks give too intense tannins, which, however, you soon get used to), but intense, youthfully bright and daring, memorable and original, although generally made in the familiar Speyside style. Rating: 81 out of 100.

Be sure to let this whisky stand for a while; it develops immensely after a few minutes.

Where are the different casks??? No sherry, no virgin oak... Sad

According to BenRiach’s Brand Ambassador (who was hosting this tasting), the current core lineup with the 3 Cask Matured style (and the older age statements using 4 Casks) was established by Dr. Rachel Barrie (GlenDronach’s Master Blender) who also oversaw Benriach when Billy Walker sold both distilleries. Considering the excellent work Dr. Barrie has done over at GlenDronach, we couldn’t wait to see how Benriach would turn out. The Benriach Original Ten (Aged 10 Years) is approachable and a solid dram. It’s not a legendary standout, but for $50 US (£37), this is a great value. It tastes like a easy-drinking Speysider, welcoming and not watered down, even if it’s only 43% ABV. Hats off to Dr. Rachel Barrie for creating an entry-level bottle that is legitimately enjoyable even for hardcore whisky fans. It’s not the most complex dram, but if I was at a bar that had Benriach Original Ten, I’d be glad to order it as a starting dram for the night.

S 7 Very Speyside, fruity and slightly malty. Light farmhouse notes. 81-85 - Another dram welcomed H2H Tasting The Original Ten - WB165510 -83 The Twelve - WB165512 - 83 The Smoky Ten - WB165511 - 81 The Smoky Twelve - WB165513 - 81 Malting Season First Edition - WB189361 - 83 21yo Tawny Port Finish - WB85034 - 85

The Benriach 10 is a thoroughly solid Speyside whisky. Pleasant notes of caramel, vanilla, and fruit. The virgin oak cask influence is relatively subtle. However, the aromas don't quite have the opportunity to fully develop given the low ABV of 43%. Nevertheless, it's a decent single malt. Sweet, fruity, and easy to drink. It's certainly not a disappointment, but it's not particularly memorable either. Solid, straightforward, and pleasant to drink.

Spicy Entry Level Malt Late summer 2020 BenRiach launched a new core range. Bottles and tubes got a new look, but more importantly: Rachel Barrie (my muze with Auchentoshan a few years ago, remember?) created this new ‘The Original Ten’ from a completely new recipe. Three types of wood come into play: bourbon, sherry and virgin oak. A tidbit of knowledge: this is the only one of the new range that is bottled at 43%, the others are bottled at 46%. Let’s get to work! The nose is soft and very accessible with lots of fruit like nectarines, apples and pears, but also melon and apricots. The virgin oak adds some extra spiciness, including vanilla and cedar wood. The body is just fine and the malt is immediately both sweet and spicy. Vanilla and caramel, but also some nutmeg and chili peppers. The fruit is limited to overripe pear and apricots, but is joined now by some woodsmoke and nuts. And a freshly baked croissant! Lovely. The vanilla, nuts and spices linger in the medium long finish. I’m actually getting cozy and warm. Man’s best friend with balls, thanks to the spices. Around 35 to 40 EUR, which I find very acceptable. Great entry level malt.

Nice young whisky The alcohol is wonderfully integrated, the marriage of the different barrels worked very well here

Fruity on the nose, then more spice in the taste, whereby the fruit aromas and sweetness also come through on the second sip. Personally, I even prefer it to the 12. [80 - 76 = 'really not bad'-whisky -> but do I need a (second) bottle?]

Not bad for a beginner. Not a mistake and complex enough. Nothing surprising, of course, but fine.

Solid with a bit of funk. Not especially interesting or engaging, and leaves the impression of something to be desired on the palate. Absolutely drinkable, not particularly memorable.

A perfectly fine entry-level malt, but enthusiasts will likely crave more depth.

Sweeter and stronger with water

Canned pear, artificial fruit, trace of smoke, hint of vanilla on the nose. Dry, fresh, crisp, almonds, short taste and finish. Plain and simple, nothing wrong with that, works just fine.

A decent malt with a bit of character. Bitter sour and sweet notes of green apples, pears, melons. Oak bitterness, spicy finish. With water get hint of salt, lighter honey saltana and crisp apples. Sour notes , slight dry tannins persist and takes a while to get used to it, but starts to grow on you from a flavour sensations perspective.. The smoky lemony sour, salty and sweet notes are well managed by the addition of a touch of peat. Caramel toffee, sharp, and quite prickly. The 12 is better, showing more balance.

Soft on the palate - quite pleasing honey, malt and an appearance of soft orchard fruit An approachable dram for new hobbyists.

A fairly simple whisky with prominent alcoholic notes. It softens with rest in the glass, opening up notes of floral and fruity aroma. There's a quality trying to reveal itself in this liquid, but there's also an alcoholic rusticity that's difficult to break through. Still, there's a pleasant expectation that it will improve with rest in the glass.

nose: fresh, fruity, mild sherry, caramelized mouth: a little peppery spices, more fatty and greedy than the original, combination of fresh (apple and pear) and cooked fruits, a little woody on the way back; vanilla, bitterness there with cooked almonds final: simple and short, on the same scents, more vanilla.

Good whisky for price

Vanilla biscuits, fine tobacco, leather, subtle fruitiness. Thin, somewhat watery, cane sugar sweetness, one-dimensional, moderate intensity.

Not bad at all. Nose: fruits, apples, baking spices. Taste: Oak, vanilla, fruits. Finish: Medium, warming

Nose: Buttery, vanilla, fruit, apples, peaches, apricots, apple cider vinegar, pepper. 82.50 Taste: Vanilla, toffee, citrus, grapefruit, cocoa, spices, cinnamon, a bit of sherry sweetness, pepper. 82.50 Finish: Short, vanilla, cocoa, pepper, a bit of fruit. 81.00 Rating 82.00

Aroma is a tad waxy, not Clyenlish level, and has a nice earthy-malty character that sits alongside a warm fruitiness that comes through like a gourmet fruit candy; Palate is rather basic but is good and fruity with a strong malty presence that’s super easy to sip and enjoy; Finish is warm, soft and fruity.

n: fruit, strong, apples, pears, berries, fruit compote, oak, honey t: light, fruit a: oak, nuts, fruit, short

Not particularly complex, but a perfectly acceptable malt for the price range.

Benriach The Original Ten 10 yr old 43%. "Three cask matured". Pale yellow. Aroma of stewed apples, Nice biscuits and custard creams, soft vanilla oak, vanilla fudge with a squeeze of lemon, some custard. Clean pleasant aroma. Taste is very easy, not a rough edge to be seen, vanilla tart, more custard creams, well-integrated oak, touch of green bell pepper and white pepper in the finish, along with rusk biscuits. Drinks as easy as water. Very clean and well-made. Pretty much the perfect example of a vanilla Scotch whisky (in all senses of the word). The only cask type of the three I can taste is refill American oak. It's a very good clean drinkable whisky. Nothing fancy, just super-solid. Blind I'd probably have it down as an accomplished blended Scotch. 3.5/84

A bourbon, sherry and virgin oak cask matured whisky. On the nose it feels younger than 10 years of age. There's very little peat with mostly vanilla, mint and eucalyptus notes coming forward. I also get ripe banana, pear, lemon, orange and baked fruit alongside nutty, woody and tea notes. The palate is creamy and round with licorice, vanilla, salted caramel, apple, pear marzipan, cinnamon and honey. The finish is medium in length with spicy notes followed by citric and salted caramel notes. It's an ok dram, nothing to remember.