BenRiach 17 year old Solstice (2nd edition) review

17 year old Solstice from BenRiach is the second edition of the series in question, replacing the 15 year old single malt whisky, which was well appreciated by Whisky Bible’s Jim Murray. Solstice is distilled from heavily peated malted barley and matured in ex-bourbon casks. Finished in tawny port pipes. Comes in a nice gift box and is a limited edition.

So far, smoke and port has been a match made in heaven for me – BenRiach 17YO Solstice is no exception. I love it. The taste is great combination of fruity and peaty notes. Since port and smoke seem to be my cup of tea and so far, this is the best offering I’ve tasted of those ingredients:

This has to have some sort of secret formula (enough aging?) to get the best out of everything.

Amazing ingredients for a whisky – like FORMULA 51 or something

Formula 51 comes to mind, it has similar qualities. It’s fresh, sweet, rough, strong and bursting with character. And in the centre of the story there is a substance creating a great feeling to its users. Just like this BenRiach creates a divine experience for me, a whisky and peat fanatic.

Matured in:

Ex-Bourbon casks, finished in Tawny Port pipes

Colour: Copper

Nose: Very peaty, just the way I like it. Strong with sweet, spicy peat. Sophisticated smoke, like a bonfire which has been put out in a wet soil. Spicy meat and sweet fruits mixed together nicely. Water brings out the fruits even more, oranges dominating.

Taste: Mix of fruits and earthly peat smoke. Full and juicy sweet, yet robust with rough, salty peat and warming with spices. Nicely oily. Addition of water makes it more fruitier.

Finish: Long lasting roasted dryness. Coal, peat and spices. Water makes the finish much smoother but then again, it loses some character.

Balance: Excellent dram and I do like the finish, even though I usually don’t stand too much dryness. This whisky has a nice roasted dry note, which makes it perfect. I thought this couldn’t top Septendecim but it did!

Scoring

Nose:Taste:Finish:Balance:

Distillery: BenRiach Region: Speyside ABV: 50% Non chill-filtered, no added colouring

BenRiach 17 year old Solstice single malt whisky review

If you want to buy BenRiach 17 year old Solstice whisky, check out the lowest prices on Amazon UK below. There are also other 17 year old BenRiach whiskies available, such as Septendecim and Batch 12 for example.

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