Tasting Notes: Benrinnes: 1991 CC

Benrinnes Gordon and MacPhail 1991 connoisseurs’ choice (17/ nearly18 years old (bottled 2009) Speyside Scottish Single Malt: 43% ABV)

Visual: Pale, nearly transparent. A light straw colour.

Viscosity: Very fast forming thin streams appear nearly as soon as I held the glass up to examine them.

Nose: Fields, light vanilla. Wood shavings; menthol., Sweet freshness and morning dew. A drop of water brings out a fresh dough and a floral character.

Body: Sweet, just slightly honeyed; runs with a texture that glides across the tongue. Shortbread. Shimmers on the palette. Water really lets the sweetness through.

Finish: Slight light vanilla and dry polished wood. Not too heavy at all. Leaves a dryness that invites another sip.

Conclusion: A pleasant floral whisky; for all its light character it has a lot that comes out with the water – though just one or two drops are recommended. Eminently drinkable and rewarding. The finish is slightly too light to begin with but adds up nicely as you sip more. Not a perfect whisky but above the usual. Give it a few measures and relax.