Ben Riach The Twenty Five

Overview
BenRiach The Twenty Five is a premium 25-year-old single malt Scotch from the Speyside distillery's ultra-premium core range, crafted to deliver deepened complexity through innovative cask maturation. It builds on the distillery's tradition of multi-cask aging, offering a richer evolution from younger siblings like the 21-year expression.

Specs at a glance

Good to know
This expression undergoes four-cask maturation in sherry casks, bourbon barrels, virgin oak casks, and Madeira wine casks from Madeira Island, resulting in a darker, nuttier profile than the 21-year-old. Expert reviews highlight its exceptional value as a rare 25-year-old single malt, justifying the price jump with superior depth and drinkability.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Nutty toffee, cocoa, baked orchard fruit, and oak spice form a rich, inviting bouquet.
• Palate: Smoky caramel and baked apricot lead into baking spice, toasted oak, and tobacco leaf earthiness for layered intensity.
• Finish: Soft and lingering, with sustained nutty and oaky echoes.

Notable details

• Production: Four-cask matured (sherry, bourbon, virgin oak, Madeira wine); non-chill filtered implied by style.
• Lineage: Core offering from BenRiach's aged portfolio, emphasizing cask diversity.
• Comparison: Richer and darker than the 21-year expression.
• Availability: Limited premium release with strong desirability for repeated sipping.

"Benriach 'The Twenty Five' is a richer, darker, and nuttier whisky that delivers exceptional flavor and drinkability at its price point... fucking delicious with a cacophony of flavors." – Adventures in Whiskey

Closing
A sophisticated sipper for collectors seeking layered Speyside maturity without excess.

Sources

[1] Adventuresinwhiskey – "Review: Benriach “The Twenty One” & “The Twenty Five”"

[2] Thewhiskeywash – "Whisky Reviews: BenRiach The Twenty One and BenRiach The Twenty Five"

[3] Thewhiskeywash – "BenRiach Whisky Review: Comparing The Twenty One and Twenty Five Year Expressions"