BenRiach 22 Year (Dark Rum Finished)

Nose: Brown sugar, malted milk powder, caramel, dark fruit cake, red berries and cherries. The aroma of good quality oak cask comes through strongly and after resting for a while there are huge honey and milk chocolate aromas. It’s a seductive nose with good balance, but tending towards the lush side of things. There is a mild alcohol nip when neat but a dash of water removes this and makes the nose bloom. 86/100 Palate: The arrival is very sweet with cotton candy, gallons of milk chocolate, vanilla, honeycomb and nougat. It's like liquid Toblerone. The development sees mild spice notes arrive (white pepper, sweet cinnamon, liquorice) which provides some balance but there are increasing sweet, syrupy notes as well. The rum cask contribution is obvious and the profile is almost cartoonish, but not quite. The texture is buttery but not dense. 83/100 Finish: Medium/Long. Sweet, nut butter with chocolate, rum and brown sugar lingering into the aftertaste. 83/100 An interesting whisky that has a very plush and enticing nose but the palate does not quite live up to expectations. It's good but busy, sweet and overblown rather than complex, however to be fair it is luscious and hard to dislike. This is a very sweet whisky that would work well as a nightcap or an after-dinner dram instead of dessert wine. This was released in 2016 but is still available. The local asking price of AUD$320 is reasonable for a 22 year old single malt of this quality and it is worth picking up if you are a Benriach aficionado, or if you particularly like your whisky with a sweet rum finish. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Thanks @LeeEvolved for adding this entry. I nabbed a sample of this from MoM. Candy Floss, Brown sugar, creme brulee nose, honey suckle and caramel on the nose. On the palate the dark rum, spice comes through as well as well as aforementioned flavors. Aftertaste lets it down a bit with slight gluee bitterness but its still warming. 4 I was thinking for this one but as some drams get better and better others flaws really become more prominent and overpowering....so 3.75 max. it's not a cheap drop either at $200 USD. Don't worry Lee I often find the same off putting bitterness aspect with Macallans which drags most from a higher rating down into 3.75 territory not a problem for most people and yourself so I'm sure you'll enjoy the bottle more than me :-)

History of the bottle: It was matured first in American barrels, then finished in dark rum casks from Jamaica. Non-chill filtered, with its natural colour, bottled at 46 ABV - typical for the Benriach. Tasting notes: Nose of delightful fruit cake with sliced ​​almonds. Sweet mix of berries with lots of honey and caramel. Huge influence of the rum barrel, which in combination with the bourbon barrels, leads to a very sweet sensation. The taste is very spicy and sweet, with a light pepper melange, followed by overripe fruits - plums, quinces, etc. The malt stays well-balanced. The finish is medium, with a sensation of buttery nuts - Brazil nuts and sliced ​​almonds. Would give it another chance if I see it somewhere again.