Benrinnes Old Malt Cask 1979 21 Years Single Malt Whisky

Whiskyspace Notes 1361

Jun 3, 2026, 01:07:14

Right, gave this one a proper nosing first. 🍂 The nose is really lovely — a mix of plums and blood oranges, with some very zesty tangerines coming through. Getting a bit of sweet apples and walut skin too, maybe a touch of porridge. No cabbage or egginess, which is a plus. On the palate, it’s pleasant but not mind-blowing. A bit grassy and grainy upfront, with some barley sugar sweetness. It’s got notes of apples, oatcakes, and a whisper of white wine. I’d say it’s more mature than I expected, though maybe not quite as complex as the 1984 I remember. The grains are more obvious here, and without much bread or yeast character. Finish is medium length, with a faint mineral sulphur note and a hint of Gueuze-like tartness. Slightly bitter at the very end, but not burnt. It’s nice, clean, and natural-tasting — just feels a touch younger and loses a few points for me in comparison. Too bad, I had deep hopes! Still, many more fruits to explore. 👃

Carmen Palmer

May 27, 2026, 07:01:05

Right, tried this one tonight. Got a bit of a walnut skin thing on the nose, some grassy notes too. Quite fruity actually – apples and plums jumping out. Tastes like it’s got some white wine influence, maybe a touch of Gueuze? Certainly no egg or heavy bread/yeast stuff. It’s a bit bitter on the finish, and honestly, it feels younger than the 1984 I remember – not quite its best side. More fruits here, but loses a few points now, a shame really. Medium length, with some barley sugar sweetness coming through. Not burnt, just… a bit less mature than I hoped. 🤔

Georgia White

May 27, 2026, 02:30:59

Nose is lovely, really - think blood oranges, sweet apples, maybe a bit of tangerine. 🍊 But the palate... hmm, it's so-so. Loses points there. It's quite grassy and grainy, with obvious grains, a bit of oatcake and walnut skin bitterness. Not much of the bread or yeast I sometimes like. Too bad. Some mineral sulphur touch, and yes, a drop of that Gueuze-like sharpness. Fruits are there, like plums and more apples, but it feels younger, not as fully mature as that lovely 1984 I tried. The 1984 had a deeper, rounder quality I preferred altogether. This one's clean and natural, sure, but not its best side today. Medium finish, some porridge-like barley sugar, just a faint hint of grassy. Nice enough for a casual sip, but my deep hopes for it weren't quite met. 🤷‍♂️

Megan Bennett

May 2, 2026, 13:51:16

🥃 Nice smoky vibe, with a bit of a kick. Warming spices, kinda gingery. Sweet vanilla notes come through too. Hints of toasted oak, smooth finish. A proper fireside sipper, this one. 💨🔥 Plummy fruitiness lingers. Malty backbone, decent chew. Long, spicy aftertaste – moreish! A solid dram for a chilly evening.

Carole Harrison

Apr 30, 2026, 08:41:26

Creamy? 🤔 Smoky? Sort of... reminds me of warm toffee 'n vanilla, with a hint of grapes n pear. There's a fresh breeze thru it all, like a youthful dram but with depth. Oaky, smoky, fruity... bit like forest fruits? A touch of big tobacco on the nose. Srsly smooth, surprises with mint n nuttiness. Layers of sweetness, spice, butteriness, warmth. Sweet beetroot? Ginger? Cinnamon? Complex notes of peach, pear, dates. Aroma is mango, peach, ginger spice honey 🍯. Zesty lemon & lime notes. Cinnamon, spice, buttery vanilla, nutmeg, white pepper. Finish has ash, marzipan, almond, burnt sugar. Quite something! 👍