Benrinnes 15 Year Flora & Fauna

Nose: vanilla, with a hint of boiled vegetables, I would say cabbage (an aroma that I had never heard before in a whiskey ...). Then wet leather and a tip of chocolate. Palate: at least particular, it mainly reminds me of leather, which obviously I have never eaten but which you "taste" when, for example, you help yourself with your mouth to put in place a leather glove. paint. But don't get me wrong, nothing unpleasant! Then vanilla, sweet honey, raisins. I would say a hint of sherry. Final: perfect: medium length, balanced, sweet with honey and a hint of sherry here too. Complex whisky, I would say for now (5.2.2022) the best of the Flora & Fauna series together with Blair Athol, of which I think little or nothing is missing. 4.50 rating ___________________________________________________ Naso: vaniglia, con una punta di verdura bollita, direi verza (un aroma che non avevo mai sentito prima in un whisky…). Poi cuoio bagnato e punta di cioccolato. Palato: quantomeno particolare, principalmente mi ricorda il cuoio, che ovviamente non ho mai mangiato ma che “assapori” quando ad esempio ti aiuti con la bocca per mettere a posto un guanto di pelle. vernice. Ma non fraintendetemi, nulla di spiacevole! Poi vaniglia, miele dolce, uvetta. Direi una punta di sherry. Finale: perfetto: lunghezza media, equilibrato, dolce al miele e punta di sherry anche qui. Whisky complesso, direi per ora (5.2.2022) il migliore della serie Flora & Fauna, della quale mi manca credo poco o nulla. Voto 4,50

The dram has a potent nose of dark honey, cereal, a distinct leather begotten by oloroso cash finishing, bran muffins, raisin cookies, and Fig Newtons. Palate is semi-sweet, with hazelnuts, yeast extract, oranges, cinnamon, faint nutmeg which then dries into a medium finish with more of the leather and a bit of oak. The label mentions peat--there's none of that there. It is a part of a broader regional description and, upon investigating the flavor contained within, it seems more a branding mishap as there's not a trace of it--quite plausible given the rather disheveled appearance of the bottle. The sherry cask used was old and musty, about as much so as any sherry cask finishing in scotch can become. After contemplating the roof of my mouth for a few minutes, a slight meat taste emerges along with cocoa powder. The meat lingers and even becomes a bit like steak or Worcestershire sauce. It's not off putting at all; rather, it confirms the presence of well aged scotch aged in a very old used sherry cask.

Der Whisky: Der Benrinnes 15 Jahre ist ein echter Geheimtipp in der Flora & Fauna-Serie von Diageo. Der grandios komponierte Sherry-Cask-Malt aus der Worm Tub-Destille punktet mit reifen und vielschichtigen Aromen. Die Sherryfässer: Der Speyside-Whisky reift für die komplette Zeit in einer Kombination aus unterschiedlichen Sherryfässern. Vermutlich handelt es sich dabei überwiegend um Oloroso-Sherry-Casks. So schmeckt er: Der Benrinnes 15 Jahre ist im Mund vollmundig und von fruchtig-würzigen Aromen geprägt. Im Tasting sind Noten von säuerlichen roten Beeren, süßen Birnen sowie herber Grapefruit zu schmecken. Zum Abgang hin wird dieser Whisky robuster mit Aromen von Baumrinde, Teer und Leder. Der Abgang ist prickelnd mit markantem Eichenholz, Zimt und etwas Holzkohle.

In honour of my 150th review on Distiller, I'll be enjoying a flight of three single malts that I haven't tried before.  They're the last 3 samples from the "Regions of Scotland" set I picked up from Drinks by the Dram. Representating Speyside is Benrinnes 15 yr Flora and Fauna.  Weird name. Does this mean in addition to essences of Scottish plant life there will be some notes of sheep as well?  Guess we'll find out. Nose: Fresh baked bread, malt and musty red apples. Palate: Oily and savory, walnuts, a hint of smoke and bitterness. Finish: Leather, wood and dried apple skins. I can't say I've ever had a Speyside like this before. Leans much more heavily into the tannins than the fruit. It's good and complex, but I'm not sure I'd buy a bottle.

Nose – Cinnamon, leather, nutmeg, red grapes, oranges, florals. Palate – Raisin cream pies w spice, cocoa powder, slightest smoke, honey, white pepper. Finish – Dry, medium length, balanced, oloroso-esque. Water – N – More fruits and vanilla, marshmallow, more florals. P – Slight mineral, not as good.. F – Short, dry, hazelnuts... I wish the "craft" and artisanship was better from Diageo here, but I say that about all the Flora and Fauna bottles, even the ones I like, like this one....Coloring and chill filtering is so... passe'... The theme to this dram should be musically sweet but spicy... "Lunar Sea" by Camel will work.

15-21yo whisky is my wheel house! It is the age range I seem to enjoy the most. This Benrinnes 15yo is excellent IMO. I think it offers everything you could expect in a scotch. There are elements of smoke, peat, and sweetness the seem to balance each other perfectly! This a rich, flavor full whisky that is a bit hard to come by in the states. If you have the opportunity to sample or buy a bottle I would be surprised if you were disappointed.