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Delicious, quite intense sherry malt, but somehow seems a bit too cask-heavy.

Aroma: Very fruity from the start, dark cherries, plums, raisins, plus orange zest and apple compote, behind them Oloroso-typical notes of walnut, cocoa and a hint of leather, slightly spicy wood notes, no sulfur problem and the alcohol is present but quite well integrated. Taste: Ripe red fruits, dried figs and dates, plus bitter orange and some tart grape skin, then dark chocolate, nuttiness, pleasantly oily, dry and slightly spicy oak. Finish: Medium-long, dark fruit lingers, along with cocoa, oak spice and a slightly bitter, vinous dryness. Conclusion: For me, a well-rounded and modern sherry whisky offered at a fair price.

N: Melted butter, maple syrup, pancakes, canned whip cream, concentrated raisin juice, vanilla/caramel, cereal P +Body (L/M/F): Medium body, malt & sherry, buttery, oak spice, proof hit, dark chocolate, leather, estery F +Length (S/M/L): Medium finish, nutty (almonds?), malt, light bitterness, dark stewed sherry notes (raisin?) Score: 91/100 | 8/10 | 4/5 | Dramface Scale: Something special

Awesome Price/Performance Ratio!

Modern clean first fill Oloroso butt driven Benriach, one for the red ones. Red fruits, peppers, tobacco, cacao, tannins, toffee, creamy malt, spices, oak. Medium drying finish, the abv is integrated nicely. Good bang for buck and scores higher on a ppv scale, actually in terms of price performance ratio the Signatory serie is almost unbeatable and a benchmark.

Not my cup of tea… there are much better ones in the series.

Is there anything to say against it? No, this is a deliciously drinkable, modern whisky. The only thing you won't find here is a distillery character. That could all be true, but I'd never go to Benriach. I don't have the apples for that.

High concentration of dried fruit wood, concentration as if you made a 0.2 bottle out of a 0.7. Maybe there is a lack of elegance, maybe there is a lack of layering, but that will be solved by diluting it with water.

On the one hand, it's a cloying syrup, on the other, it's rough and still prickly. On the one hand, there are negative notes of fermentation, and on the other, it's an interesting and bright funk, more like Ben Nevis or just something in a modern style. Not banal, pleasant and interesting, drinks with pleasure. 22 22 21 21

Even though I am not a fan of these overpowering sherry influences in the case of this whisky, I must admit that the aroma of this whisky is the most concentrated strawberry aroma I have ever smelled in a whisky. The aroma is a very distinct mixture of strawberry, cocoa, cellar notes and in the background some perhaps slightly disturbing smell of some rubber... In the taste cocoa or chocolate bitterness, visible strawberries, slight woodiness, alcohol spiciness

From a sample: Very good nose, with lots of strawberry jam and coffee. Sadly, it shows a rubbery note on the palate and finish that I don’t really appreciate.

Well, I bought a bottle a month ago. Still closed but got a sample of it aswell. Heard a lot of great stories about this one so I can't wait.

It's nice that the seller included a sample so I could try it. Unfortunately, it's not what I like.

Signatory Vintage Benriach 2014 10 Years 100 Proof Edition #40 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts SV 100 proofs are no-brainer, go-to drams for stormy nights. Especially when you don't want to think too hard about which to pick. After all, they are seen as entry level tasters to different distilleries, close to cask strength, and steeped heavily in sherry to be palatable... or is that really all that it offers? Nose: Top notes of vanilla, strawberry, and traces of pink Pocky sticks. Stewed plums, intertwined with light tanned leather make up a noticeable body of the aroma. Rounding up the base are hints of musty wood and drying grain. While this definitely hints at something pleasant, there is also less indication of the Benriach distillate, covered by the sherry influence. Perhaps the distinct aroma of grain gives it away to seasoned drinkers, but certainly won't be obvious for the rest. Palate: Sweet, dry, with powerful grainy spirit. The sherry cask used here can only he described as a one trick pony. Spice synonymous with Oloroso, sweetness exceeding that of PX. Caramelised strawberries with a skim of raisins and prunes. Notes are there, but there is a slight lack of 'roundness' or dimension. A drop of water opens it up slightly, but not by too much. Towards the tail, noticeable Benriach grain concludes the experience--- uncooked rice, a clean but musty storeroom, and light, powdery tannins. Finish: Short to medium. Plywood, dark fruits, and the ghost of Benriach Grain™. When I first started out, I couldn't really tell why I was paying a premium for Exceptional Casks, or Symington's Choice for that matter. In this case, the difference is quite clear. This is a decent dram for what it's priced at, but definitely won't be categorised as a heavy hitter or what I'd consider as having depth. But it is an easy sipping, grain flashing, and sherry touting dessert option for way less than 100 quid.

Great, but nasty sweet modern sherry

Both the nose and palate were sweet and intuitive, showing a powerful cask influence. I truly enjoyed this dram.

aroma: delicate, rounded, dried raisins, cognac taste: harsh, alcoholic, dried fruit, something like cognac I can't help it, it tastes like brandy with a little more alcohol.

I find this really good. Plenty of the distillate flavour getting passed the 1st fill Oloroso cask. One of the better ones I think.

Nose : fermented fruits, cocoa, strawberry / berries, polish, vanilla, wet forest Taste: Bam!!! Wow! Overripe red berries, slightly sour red apple, oily and drinkable, malt, white pepper, slightly sparkling and dry, dry raisins, dates, a good amount of wood Departure: medium length, slightly tingling and becoming drier.

Another cracker from Signatory! Another VERY sherry-driven whisky. No, I'm certainly not going to criticize this 10-year-old Benriach, but compare all the 100-proof series and try to guess a distillery. A perfect match for my personal preference, but very complex? Very layered? Long finish?

Blog on www.longpouramour.com on 7 July 2025. My conclusion: "One to drink now or to stash away for 10 – 15 years and shock your friends with when you pour it in the year 2040. A future classic, and perhaps one of the most impressive from the 100 proof editions done by Signatory Vintage. If you have not already stocked up, chances are you will never see this bottle again against retail prices."

I didn't make it easy for myself and compared three (apparently) 100 proof bottlings over several weeks: A) Ben Nevis #41 B) Benriach #40 C) Benriach #47 The Ben Nevis is truly delicious; it was once available for €40. However, it always felt a shade below the Benriach: where the latter could add a final touch of harmony (sherry bomb at its best :)), I always found some off-note in the Ben Nevis, without being able to identify it. Now, about Benriach: I've sworn off Benriach for what feels like forever. Everything I've tried in the recent past has mostly remained in the glass... The surprise was all the greater when I had the #47 in my glass: what a delight! In the rush of emotion, I gave it 89/90 points. I've now adjusted it to a more realistic 88 points. It's absolutely worth it, though. I came to the same conclusion with the #40, because honestly, I think I'm just imagining the difference in nuances. Double-blind testing wasn't really a big deal, since I had previously favored the #47, perhaps also based on the WB ratings. But it doesn't matter, since all three stand out with great value for money. The two Benriachs were at least 10% more expensive, by the way, but that's worth it for me :)

Benriach from Signatory's 100 Proof Edition. It's a typical Signatory whisky – matured in first-fill Oloroso butts, which have given it a very dark, reddish-hued mahogany color. But it's an unusual brand for the independent bottler. Benriach is a rare find. The distillery's fortunes since its acquisition by Brown-Forman haven't been particularly successful. Production is being scaled back, and the staff are temporarily working at the Glenglassaugh Distillery. glen-efze.de

Too charged for my taste. As if the Benriach had been blended directly with a cask of sherry. And then another cask of cherry juice was added. It's certainly drinkable, but more so if you're in the mood for a fortified wine rather than a whisky.

Overall, a delicious whisky to drink on a relaxing evening. With its strengths and weaknesses, it fits perfectly with the other 100 proof bottlings. You can buy it without hesitation, but you don't have to.