Benrinnes 15 Year Flora & Fauna

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.

An intense, 15-year-old, triple distilled Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Benrinnes Distillery. It has a doughy birth with notes of vanilla, toffee chip biscuits & floral; while a rounded & sweet life adds notes of sweet fruit, green apple, peat; that led to a slightly drying death of medium length with notes of barley, biscuit, herbs, honey, pear. honey & nut. February / June / August 2018 / 2022

Nose: Vanilla, mild chocolate, raisins, oak, hint of smoke, apples Palate: Raisins, chocolate, apples, salt Finish: Chocolate, spicy oak, plums, salt This is a special one. Not a sherry bomb, but all the ingredients are there. It is just tuned down a bit for an elegant taste. The mild smoke gives it a unique taste reminding me of some bbq feast.

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.

Caramel, Sherry