Stop number 71 on the SDT is Benrinnes. This Speyside distillery is almost exclusively used as a blending component in Dewars produced blends. The distillery has been destroyed by fires and floods in its history and each time has been rebuilt and modernized. Up until 2007 they used what is known as a partial triple distillation, unlike the standard double distillation used by the vast majority of Scottish distilleries. I read what it meant, but most of it went over my head so I won’t try to explain it. This 17 year old from Berry Bros’ was distilled in 1997 (so it was produced using that triple distillation method) and bottled in 2015 from cask number 9631. Bottled at 46% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of a pale straw. The nose starts with a very nice creamy vanilla. I love whisky that has strong vanilla notes so I immediately too notice. Perfumed oak comes in with a powdered sugar sweetness. Toffee, caramel, brown sugar/molasses. It becomes fruity with coconut, plums, grapes, pineapple, a little peach and nectarines. Some light bourbon notes and a bit of lemon oil. A touch grassy/herbal and a hit of candle wax. More vanilla, honey and green tea. The palate arrives peppery but the moment you swallow there is an explosion of tropical fruits. Mango, papaya, coconut, and pineapple. Charred oak and leather, tobacco and honey. Mixed berries, cherries and brown sugar. A touch of wood spices like nutmeg and ginger. So very different than what the nose presented. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is mouth coating and dry. A long finish with oak, tropical fruits, a faint licorice and tea. What started as a nice vanilla on the nose ended with huge tropical flavors. I really wasn’t expecting that. This is a rare winner from Berry’s. At $78 it’s a very reasonable price for a 17 year old. The quality is there, but it’s not something I would want to sip on too often. It’s intense at times which can be a little wearing on the tongue. Thanks to @LeeEvolved for the sample. 3.5-3.75 Cheers