Whisky Review/Tasting: Benrinnes 18 years 1997 Signatory Vintage

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Benrinnes Distillery, Speyside, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation Date: October 17, 1997.
Bottling Date: May 31, 2016.
Age Statement: 18 years.
ABV: 43%.
Maturation: Matured in two consecutive hogsheads (casks #9404 and #9405).
Color: Not too dark, indicating refill hogsheads were used.
Clarity: Slightly chill-filtered.
Bottle Design: Signatory Vintage's distinctive two-colored tubes, with a copper tone at the bottom and a barley tone at the top.

Nose: Orange, vanilla, caramel, maltiness, with a hint of sweetness.
Palate: Oily at the start, rising spiciness, peppery notes, sweet oranges transitioning to light citrus, dry, with hints of toast or corn flakes (unsweetened).
Finish: Full, intense, complex, slight oakiness without bitterness, nutty notes.

Unique Bottling: A dual cask bottling from an independent bottler, combining two consecutive casks for consistency.
Scientific Investigation: A study on chill filtration linked on whisky.com, showing minimal difference in quality between chill-filtered and non-chill-filtered samples.

Speyside Character: Emphasizes the typical malty and fruity profile of Speyside whiskies, highlighting Benrinnes as a quintessential example.
Contribution to Blends: The whisky's profile is described as the "spice" in blended whiskies, showcasing its importance in the broader Scotch whisky industry.

"These are the bottles you have to go for." - Highlighting the value and quality of this particular bottling.
"This is pure malt whiskies, the spice in the blended whisky." - Emphasizing the whisky's role in contributing to the flavor profile of blended Scotch.

Benrinnes 18 years 1997 Signatory Vintage is a single malt Scotch from Speyside, aged 18 years, with a 43% ABV.
It showcases a balance between distillery and cask character, with a flavor profile of orange, vanilla, caramel, and maltiness, leading to a spicy, peppery palate with a complex finish.
The whisky is slightly chill-filtered, with a study indicating minimal quality difference between chill-filtered and non-chill-filtered samples.
It's presented in Signatory Vintage's distinctive packaging and offers great value for its age and quality.
The whisky is described as embodying the typical Speyside character, contributing significantly to the flavor profiles of blended Scotch whiskies.

Speyside Enthusiasts: Individuals who appreciate the malty and fruity characteristics typical of Speyside whiskies.
Value Seekers: Those looking for aged single malts at a reasonable price point.
Connoisseurs Interested in Production Details: Whisky aficionados who value understanding the impact of chill filtration on flavor.
Blended Whisky Fans: Individuals curious about the components that contribute to the complexity of blended Scotch.