First introduced in the UK last year, the new Benriach core range of four single malt Scotch whiskies are now officially in Singapore.
Often overshadowed by its more illustrious cousins GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh, it’s almost too easy to forget that Benriach, located in the Speyside region of Scotland, was the single malt Scotch whisky distillery that American spirits giant Brown-Forman owned before the other two. While GlenDronach had soared on its sherry bombs – especially its almost iconic 15 Year Old Revival – and Glenglassaugh built a fearsome reputation for its long-aged whiskies (due to falling silent multiple times), Benriach languished somewhat along the side.
The irony for Benriach was that its core strengths – a versatility of being able to make both classic and peated whiskies, and an edgy innovativeness leading it to be the first Speyside distillery to triple distill – had become its weaknesses. In previous years that had led to a hodgepodge of styles and bizarre expressions which tended to confuse whisky drinkers, rather than solidifying a specific house style.
But with its recently-introduced core range, things may just change for Benriach.
The new Benriach core range of four single malt Scotch whiskies – first released in the UK in 2020 – is likely to be the sorely needed panacea to solve its branding woes. Made up of The Original Ten, The Original Twelve, The Smoky Ten, and The Smoky Twelve, these core whiskies come with new packaging that takes a leaf from the 1994 bottling of the Original Ten, the first Benriach single malt released over two decades ago.
More importantly, the two classic and two peated whiskies tell of Benriach’s tradition and innovation. Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie and her team has put together expressions they hope “re-imagines the 1898 origins of Benriach, brought to life in the 21st century through fusing distilling styles with extraordinary casks“.
“In the new Original Ten, a more richly flavoured, rounded malt character might be discerned, whilst The Twelve balances richly sherried malt with added layers of fruit complexity, reaching a pinnacle at twelve years old,” shared Dr. Barrie. “The new Smoky Ten and Smoky Twelve explore the sweet smokiness of Benriach, enriched through innovative combinations of rum, virgin oak and marsala casks interwoven with more traditional bourbon and sherry.”
“The new Benriach range is for those open to new possibilities, building on a wealth of experience and tradition. I invite the drinker to join me on this creative journey, as we explore the rich rewards of single malt whisky,” she added.
“The new Benriach is a forward-thinking single malt packed with flavours, aromas and depth,” declared Alex Yong of Malt & Wine Asia, Benriach’s official distributor in Singapore. “As you sip through the whiskies you will experience different layers of flavours unfold and whisky dancing on your palate. Dr. Rachel Barrie has brought the art of blending to a new level, which gives us the confidence to launch this in the Singapore market.”
Benriach’s latest core range has already scored raving reviews and top international awards, including holding the prestigious no. 3 spot on Whisky Advocate’s list of “Top 20 Whiskies of 2020” as well as winning gold medals at the San Francisco Spirit Competition.
As part of the rebranding, Benriach will also be offering a premium selection that includes the Twenty One, Twenty Five and Thirty year old single malt expressions.
Benriach’s The Original Ten, The Smoky Ten, The Original Twelve, and The Smoky Twelve come at a recommended retail price of S$130, S$130, S$148, and S$152 respectively. The premium selection will be available at a recommended retail price of S$330, S$970, and S$1,250 for the Twenty One, Twenty Five and Thirty respectively. The Benriach portfolio is distributed in Singapore by Malt & Wine Asia and available from Brown-Forman’s official online stores on Shopee and Lazada Mall.
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