Benriach : 12 Year "The Twelve"

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the 12 Years Old "The Twelve" by Benriach

Tasting

Color
A seductive golden bronze, this color is the result of an entirely natural pigmentation acquired over twelve years of cask maturation.

Nose
A rich, indulgent opening where maple syrup and cocoa intertwine with aromas of stewed forest fruits. After a few moments of aeration in the glass, subtle notes of citrus zest come to complete this complex bouquet.

Palate
A remarkable layering of flavors opens with maraschino cherry and cooked orange, reflecting the influence of the sherry and port casks. The tasting then evolves toward warm notes of hazelnut and toasted almond, offering a perfectly balanced sweetness. The finish, with beautiful length, extends into notes of sultana raisins and spiced mocha, leaving a gentle woody warmth and subtle oak tannins.

Food Pairing and Tasting Moments

This single malt proves to be an excellent companion for desserts. It elevates apple-based preparations, such as a crumble or a tart, as well as butter biscuits and shortbread cookies. Cocoa lovers will enjoy it alongside dark chocolate with candied orange peel or milk chocolate with hazelnut pieces. On the savory side, its dried fruit notes pair wonderfully with Middle Eastern or North African cuisine, as well as with glazed meats accompanied by a cherry gastrique. Adding a drop of water while tasting is recommended to open up new aromatic dimensions, soften the palate, and mellow the finish.

Mixology

Although it is more than satisfying on its own, its complexity and deep fruity profile make it a refined base for sophisticated cocktails. It excels in a reinterpretation of the famous Penicillin cocktail or in recipes incorporating fresh spices such as ginger or cinnamon, which will enhance its own spicy warmth without masking it.

Other Characteristics

This unpeated single malt is bottled at 46% ABV. It undergoes no cold filtration, a deliberate choice by the master blender that preserves the full aromatic complexity and mouthfeel.

A Rich, Fruity, and Unpeated Single Malt from Speyside

The Estate

Founded in 1898 by John Duff on the site of the former Riach farm in the northern part of the Speyside region, Benriach is a distillery with a fascinating history. Forced to close in 1900, it survived thanks to its traditional malting floors before being reborn in 1965. Today, this iconic Whisky producer located in Scotland stands out for its unconventional approach. Under the guidance of Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, the estate crafts three styles of distillate, drawing mineral-rich water from an underground aquifer. The distillery, which restored its floor maltings in 2012, is internationally recognized for its eclectic maturation program, using casks from around the world to create spirits of exceptional complexity.

The Exceptional Crafting of the 12 Years Old "The Twelve"

A true flagship of the distillery's unpeated range, the 12 Years Old "The Twelve" perfectly illustrates the house's fruity philosophy. Entirely reimagined in 2020, this spirit benefits from a meticulous production method that begins with an unusual four-water mashing process, allowing maximum sugar extraction for a characteristic sweetness. This is followed by a slow and deliberate distillation that captures a distillate rich in fruity esters.

The architecture of its flavors rests on a masterful blend and a minimum of twelve years of maturation in three distinct types of casks. First-fill bourbon and ex-bourbon casks contribute notes of vanilla and almond; sherry casks enrich the whole with dried fruit and spice; while port casks from Portugal lend it touches of dark chocolate and cherry.

Bottled without cold filtration to preserve its full texture, this bottling was awarded a prestigious Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020, confirming its status as an essential reference in its category.