
April 10, 2026

The Time Warp Sessions,
Benrinnes, nearly forty years apart

Another distillery we really ought to do a proper, large-scale tasting of soon, but for now we’ll make do with this little comparison: 2010s vs 1970s.

Benrinnes 12 yo (53.5%, Elixir Distillers, Macbeth Act Two, Soldier, refill sherry butt, 2400 bottles, 2025)

Perhaps the most beautiful label in the whole series, that is a good start. Colour: pale gold. Nose: ultra-classical, on barley, fresh scones, English breakfast tea, fresh potting soil, tourist fudge and freshly baked shortbread for travel retail. With water: the potting soil takes control, coffee grounds, the everlasting walnuts… Mouth (neat): more powerful on the palate, more marked by the sherry, walnut liqueur, brandy de Jerez, tobacco… we would almost say it is not the same whisky, it seems much ‘darker’ on the palate, despite its rather pale true colour. With water: pastries and malted breads to the hilt. Spelt bread, rye, barley… Finish: rather long, dry, rye bread and very malty beer. Comments: it is firm, demonstrative, for your friends who want to know what malt plus dry sherry means. We like this.
SGP:361 - 86 points.

Benrinnes 1974/1987 (56.2%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #36.1)

Thus, the very first Benrinnes by the honourable Society. In those glorious days, they did not fuss about telling you it was semi-Spanish oak toasted to level 3 that had held palo cortado from Lustau for six years, three months, twenty-seven days and six hours, did they. Colour: light gold. Nose: even the nose is oily, on peanut oil and sunflower oil, then it develops on chalk and clay, towards a world we would more readily expect from a seaside malt. Indeed, we know all that is rather controversial. Lovely touches of petrol and green tea. With water: old tweed, new tweed, Woolite and oolong tea. Indeed. Mouth (neat): oh this is good! Zest, grapefruit, toasted pine nuts, very salty cured ham, vegetable oils… but where does all this salt come from? With water: what a beauty! We are almost embarrassed to be so surprised. Finish: long, perhaps more compact again, less expansive, yet still very beautiful. Comments: sometimes there are these little surprises that lift both the spirit and the morale. A small gift, from the heavens and from the old distillers, bless them. And from the SMWS.
SGP:451 - 90 points.

Check the index of all Benrinnes we've tasted

The Time Warp Sessions, Benrinnes, nearly forty years apart

The Time Warp Sessions,
Benrinnes, nearly forty years apart