The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar - Door Number 16

Each day in December until Christmas Day we are opening a door on The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar and posting our tasting notes on our blog.

Samaroli are the bottlers behind door number 16. Another Speyside whisky from them, too. This time a singlemalt: 1996 Benriach 19yo at 43%.

On the nose there's delicate vanilla, cereal and brown sugar. Some sponge cake, a bit of grape must and Cadbury's Caramel.

On the palate it's vanilla ice cream with syrup and a little bit of milk chocolate and some woody bitterness keeps it all in check.

The finish is salted caramel with a bit of treacle and a hint of cinnamon and dark chocolate.

With water the nose becomes quick biscuity with an undercurrent of drying grass. The palate is more delicate and the finish too. As usual with these light, Samaroli whiskies I would recommend leaving them as they are.

A nice, easy-going Benriach which would definitely be more attuned to the Italian market.