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Cadenhead's Authentic Collection Benriach 18 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
The firm of William Cadenhead Ltd, Wine and Spirit Merchants, was founded in 1842 and is Scotland's oldest independent bottler. The company was in the ownership of the same family until taken over by J & A Mitchell & Co.Ltd in 1972, the proprietors of Springbank distillery. Today, Cadenhead is legendary for bottling excellent single cask whiskies. The company places particular emphasis on the individuality and purity of each bottling. All whiskies are bottled undiluted at their natural maturing strength and are not subject to any artificial processing such as chill filtering or the addition of caramel.
This whisky was distilled in 1992, bottled in October 2010 and exclusively matured in a Madeira cask. Only 286 bottles produced.
Tasting note: Bright pale gold colour. First nosings offer struck match. Letting the whisky breathe allows the gently peated malt to come to the fore with a floral delicacy, then sweeter notes of apple pie emerge, but on the whole the aromas remain quite subdued. On the palate, intense, keenly spiced fruit cake flavours are kept in check by the drying oak giving this a linearity in the mouth. The texture is relatively soft considering the high ABV. The whisky develops with time in the glass, in particular the fruit and nut cake flavours build. 54.5% Alc./Vol.
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