Soba45
BenRiach Albariza 22 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
November 12, 2019 (edited January 4, 2020)
One part of me was really hoping it would be as great as the 18 year, my wallet was hoping it wasn't as I'd spent waaay to much recently on spirits. With regret the latter won out. 4 years to much in my opinion. Whilst very good it's slightly over oaked and even with loads of time and some water, the finish is shorter and slightly bitter. It reinforces my opinion that in general I think most whiskey seems to peak around the 15 - 18 mark and even younger if peated. Oh well I have a 22 year moscatel being delivered tomorrow which should console me (one that did push through the 20 year mark nicely). I might soon crack the 17 year Solstice 2nd Edition open so I can see if it's worth buying another one whilst still in stock.
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@PBMichiganWolverine I was really tempted to buy a bottle online from the UK but with custom fees shipping etc it was starting to get a bit stupid cost wise. I'm hoping the Solstice 17 year is my new 4.75 as if so I can get a 2nd bottle.
@Soba45 I just did a quick search...no Albariza 18. I’m guessing that’s now long gone. That’s an impressive top 5 list!
@PBMichiganWolverine Actually discount Highland Park Ice as that was 4.5
@PBMichiganWolverine I'm hoping if you get the 18 it lives up to the reputation now! Caveat is you need to be a peat and sherry (together) lover. Check out whiskey base as well for more reviews to make sure I'm not steering you wrong!
@PBMichiganWolverine I'd take some of the rest with a pinch of salt as they were earlier in my tasting journey so I'm pretty sure a number would not rate so highly now. That said: Calledonian - The Sovereign 1982 cask 14271 (Hunter Laing), St Magdalene 1975 - Rare Old (Gordon and MacPhail); Glendronach Revival (old version), Highland Park Ice; Glendronach Alladrice (older version). I'd say the later will most likely drop when I open a new bottle.
@Soba45 I need to see if that 18 is still available. What were the other 5 ?
@PBMichiganWolverine Oh and if it was any better than the 18 year I'd have bought a bottle and mainlined it in one go :-). The 18 was my dram of 2019. I've only given 6 drams a 4.75 and that was one of them.
@PBMichiganWolverine Maybe my sample wasn't up to par as others on this site have rated highly. However in saying that the whiskeybase average was higher for the 18 I think and other professional reviewers had said similar...good luck!
@Richard-ModernDrinking No not single cask the later. You are right about the diversity... I've still got weird and wonderful samples still to come. Never heard of Tojak casking before Benriach introduced me to it!
Damnit...I was hoping this would be better than the 18. I couldn’t find the 18 anymore, but saw this...thought the few more years might be for the better
So this is a single cask rather than one of their impressively diverse blends?