Review #132: BenRiach 17 Solstice 2nd Edition

Speyside - 17 years old - NCF - NCA - Sample ($100 at the local) - 50%

This is a peated malt that was finished in a port pipe.

Color - Russet

Nose - Berries, vanilla, blown out match, geraniums, Green apples a touch of spice and old wood

Taste - Red wine tannins, berries, fatty peat, toffee, porridge

Finish - Medium Short- Berries, cigar smoke, malt, touch of raw wood

Overall - 6 -  This is very nice and enjoyable. To me peat and red wine finish is like grilled cheese and tomato soup, comforting.  This competes with the big boys in the space such as Longrow which is impressive since it is harder than it sounds to marry and balance peat and red wine.  Having said that, I don't think that it is distinctive enough and the finish is a little short.  If looking at peated red wine finishes, this would be in the mix but not sure I would select it.

Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5.5 Solid Dram, but they probably wouldn't discount enough to buy

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.89

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16