Three of my closest friends all have birthdays within a six-week span--and we all love whisky. So every year, at some point within those six weeks, three of us collaborate to choose a bottle for the fourth friend. We all get a surprise bottle, and get together one night to crack them open. This was last year's pick for me. My first Benriach. Let's check it out. Nose: Green and red apple. Apricot and pear with a touch of plum. Cranberry and raspberry. Toffee, shortbread cookie, honey, and vanilla. Loads of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, with some oak. Palate: Plum, red apple, cranberry, raspberry. Pear and apricot sneak their way in after the red fruits. Orange citrus and a mix of red and green grapes. Caramel and milk chocolate. Toffee and shortbread cookie. Honey and vanilla. There's a slight jam note that gives this a slight viscosity before the cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg return to dominate the mid-palate. Finish: Red apple, red grape, plum, orange, and apricot lead the way. Roasted almond and walnut. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak take over and carry out the last waves of a long finish--as one would expect of a 60.6% ABV whisky. 4.25/5. My friends know me while. Cask strength is simply the best way to drink whisky. This one exemplifies the classic Speyside spirit in its boldest form--that's a winner for me. I've tried the 10 and 12 once a piece and have never owned a bottle of Benriach. After this, I'll be sure to give them a go. I gave this one 9 months to open, and now that I'm halfway through the bottle, I can safely say this is a beneficiary of time to oxidize. Solid stuff.