Cadenheads Tennessee 19yo Authentic Collection Spring 2023 & Cadenheads Benrinnes 16yo Authentic Collection Spring 2023

Cadenheads Tennessee 19yo Authentic Collection Spring 2023

Region: Tennessee

ABV: 46.3%

Price: £130.00

Bottled as part of the spring drop, this release was matured exclusively in a barrel. 156 bottles were released.

Nose

The nose opens with classic bourbon notes of vanilla fudge, caramel, a handful of toasted coconut shavings, white pepper spice and light menthol notes towards the latter part of the nose. We’re surprised at the spice coming through from the alcohol, we expected less at this ABV but it’s got some punch to it. Time and air reveals coconut macaroons and creamy milk chocolate. There’s a hint of cognac fruitiness appearing too.

Palate

The palate brings forward lots of zesty lemon, hot fudge, more of that coconut from the nose, alongside vanilla ice cream. It’s a little spicy in places, it’s more punchy baking spices, cinnamon sticks and cloves. The mouthfeel is nice, it’s got some texture, and the finish lingers on with charred oak, dark chocolate and some spent coffee grounds. Going back to it, we’re also finding some chocolate coated raisins and toasted almonds.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out cereal notes, cornflakes, honeycomb, cashew nuts and jasmine. The chocolate has transformed from a milk chocolate to a creamy white chocolate, reminding us of white chocolate mice. Some of that spice we experienced before has mellowed and we’re really enjoying the nose with a splash of water.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate manages to become even creamier, and just like the reduced nose, we’re getting lots of white chocolate now alongside condensed milk and lots of vanilla. It’s perhaps lost a little bit of complexity and has become somewhat one-note, however that one note is quite delicious.

Conclusion

Classic American whiskey, with a bit of extra age to mellow some of the rougher edges that it may have had. It’s a bit too spicy on both the nose and the palate, however it still got great flavours and aromas to counterbalance this. For us, we prefer a splash of water to mellow some of that spice. We’d happily have another dram.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

For a 19yo this seems pretty reasonable to us.

Cadenheads Benrinnes 16yo Authentic Collection Spring 2023

Region: Speyside

ABV: 51.0%

Price: £75.00

Next up is a 16yo Benrinnes that was finished in a fino sherry hogshead for approximately 4 years. 282 bottles were released.

Nose

The nose opens with fresh ripe pineapple, varnish, floral lavender, sour green apple sweeties and peach iced tea. It’s quite a mellow nose, lots of complimenting aromas dancing around without any specific one sitting on centre stage. Time and air reveals lime cordial and something slightly richer, like a caramel shortcake without the chocolate topping.

Palate

The palate has lots of fresh citrus to begin, moving into fresh orchard fruits, apples and pear in abundance. As the palate develops, we get milk chocolate, a hint of coffee, vanilla panacotta, rum and raisin fudge, and sugar dusted shortbread. It’s one of those palates that begins with one flavour profile, and quickly transforms as it sits on your tongue. The mouthfeel is nice and oily, and the finish lingers on with charred lemon and creamy vanilla. Good balance of alcohol too, just a touch of white pepper appearing on the mid palate.

Nose (with water)

With a drop of water, we’re getting much richer aromas of cocoa powder, sauterne dessert wine, lots of vanilla and caramel. Those lighter fruits have been pushed into the background, it’s much richer now and we can get a bit more of that sherry coming through.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate loses a bit of its oily mouthfeel, but doesn’t seem to change much otherwise. We’re still met with citrus that moves into creamy vanilla and shortbread. There’s less spice now, but we’re not sure the loss in mouthfeel is really worth it - we’d skip water here.

Conclusion

A lovely floral and fruity nose, with a more complex and interesting palate. We’re not sure we’d have guessed fino sherry as the finishing cask, but it’s created a lovely balanced dram. Really good quality whisky, we’re hovering somewhere between a 7.5 and 8, we’ll be conservative and go with 7.5/10.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Can’t complain for a 16yo sherry finished whisky.

• 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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