A lively, fruity, and sweet nose on this iteration of the Benriach, and one completely devoid of any smoke. A bit prickly at first, it quickly smoothes out showcasing notes of red fruits, currants and red apples, also orange marmalade, honey oats with vanilla and almond, plus a hint of maple, a bit of white chocolate, just the slightest pinch of spice, and a drop of saline. Starts out prickly on the tongue as well. Not so complex as the nose, though rich flavors blossom quickly with warm spices, cinnamon and pink pepper, jammy fruits, ripe juicy plums and some maraschino cherries. Medium to full bodied, with a little oiliness to the texture. In the glass, weak, undefined legs fall quickly, followed by a broad smattering of broken droplets left clinging to the walls. Sharpness lingers on the finish, alongside fairly bitter tannins. Notes of ripe fresh raspberries, old varnished wood, a hint of baking spices, and a touch of cocoa powder. Nose: 9 Taste: 8 Body: 8 Finish: 7