Benrinnes 15yo 2010 (Master of Malt Christmas 2025) & Caol Ila 16yo 2008 (Master of Malt Christmas 2025)

Benrinnes 15yo 2010 (Master of Malt Christmas 2025)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 48.0%

Price: £49.95

Distilled on the 1st September 2010 and bottled on the 1st September 2025 after 15 years in a single Oloroso sherry hogshead. Bottled by Master of Malt for their Christmas 2025 release. Outturn of 406 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with fizzy strawberry sweeties, fresh lemon zest, almond paste, cane sugar and a handful of walnuts too. It's a very pleasant, inviting nose, soft and gentle, not overpowering at all. Going back, we're finding more vanillas, custard doughnuts, soft fudge and a lot of simple sugary sweetness. It has nice alcohol balance for 48%.

Palate

The palate opens with richer chocolates, toffees, caramels and sugar coated nuts. It's not as soft as the nose, there's much more sherry cask influence coming through. The mouthfeel is good, it's got a caramel like texture, and the finish lingers for a good length with some unsweetened cocoa. The alcohol has a bit more of a bite now, but that's not really a problem, it backs up some of the richer flavours we're getting. Going back, there's also some butterscotch and shortbread fingers.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has more dark fruits appearing, dates, raisins, some currants, and some wood spices, it's become much more Christmas cake-like. There's still a backbone of sweet vanillas and fudge, but there's more sherry influence here.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate loses some mouthfeel, it's taken quite a hit - and hasn't really softened the alcohol too much. It's pretty similar to the unreduced palate, mostly chocolate, toffee and caramel, with butterscotch appearing as the palate develops.

Conclusion

For full maturation in oloroso for 15 years, we were expecting much more of a sherry punch, however this is much softer, with lots of sweet oak and only hints of that sherry influence. That's not a bad thing at all - this is a super quaffable dram, great for dessert after Christmas dinner.

Score: 7/10

Value

5 years old, full maturation and a decent strength all for under £50. We can’t complain.

Caol Ila 16yo 2008 (Master of Malt Christmas 2025) 

Region: Islay

ABV: 48.0%

Price: £64.95

Distilled on the 1st December 2008 and bottled on the 1st September 2025 after being fully matured in a single Moscatel sweet wine barrique. Again, bottled by Master of Malt for their Christmas 2025 releases. Release of 278 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with honey roast ham, apricot preserve, singed newspapers, and smoked mackerel fillets. The smoke is very much present but not overpowering, and there's a good amount of peat left for the age statement. Going back, we're getting ginger cake, smoked almonds and a little funky fermented ginger beer, as well as a touch of tar too.

Palate

The palate opens with honey roasted cashews, buttercream frosting, dark chocolate cooking segments, raisin studded fudge and dark brown sugar. It's much richer and more confectionery-led now, with the smoke acting as a background dimension. Going back, we're getting more nuts, mixed candied nuts, and some orange essence too. The mouthfeel is decent, with a sugar syrup-like texture, but the alcohol is a tad warmer than we'd expect, mostly as a peppery kick on the finish. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more coastal, fishy peat up front, a little iodine, and less of those cask aromas - it's like the Caol Ila spirit has awoken with the dash of water. It also feels a little drier. We'd probably skip water here.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more upfront orange and lemon oils, moving into cooking chocolate, roasted cashews and brown sugar. It hasn't changed too much, it's still quite rich and sweet, but it was a little better without the reduction for us.

Conclusion

This is very much a Christmas Caol Ila - lots of rich, sweet and nutty flavours with an undercurrent of smoke that adds to it rather than overpowering. It's a tad warm, especially for the ABV, but it's a pretty solid dram.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Like today’s other release, it’s hard to complain about the price.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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