Fragrant Drops Benriach 17yo Cask #700204

Fragrant Drops Benriach 17yo Cask #700204

Region: Speyside

ABV: 47.3%

Price: £90.00 

Distilled on 11 May 2007 at Benriach and fully matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead, this single cask whisky was bottled on 8 May 2025, with an outturn of 278 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with toffee, fudge and dried banana chips, then bread dough and hand cooked crisps. Fruit Salad Chewits, brown sugar and orange peel follow, alongside toffee pops and a light pepper spice. There is a touch of ethanol when you get deep into the glass, but it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. With time we find crème brûlée and a little strawberry jam.

Palate

The palate has apple juice, fresh mango and apricots. Vanilla fudge appears on the mid palate, moving into barley sugars and a hint of limoncello. The mouthfeel is good for the strength, nicely viscous, and the finish is medium length with a slight pepper spice joining those sweeter notes. Good integration between cask and spirit.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose picks up pear drops, grapes, and apples. It also gains a buttery note and a touch of peach fromage frais. The hint of ethanol has receded and the pepper spice has dimmed. With patience, vanilla bonbons and more obvious bourbon cask aromas emerge, alongside freshly baked bread rolls.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate is simpler. Orange squash and tangerines lead, with a little dark chocolate bitterness on the finish. There is a touch more spice now, the sweetness feels more synthetic, like sugar syrup, and advent calendar dark chocolate, but the mouthfeel holds up well.

Conclusion

A refill bourbon cask Benriach that holds our interest with or without water and makes a strong case for the humble refill bourbon cask. We could nitpick, but instead we’re just going to enjoy the dram.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

A good price for an independent Benriach at this age.

• 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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