BenRiach The Twelve is the 12 year age stated expression in the core range of the BenRiach Distillery in Elgin, Morayshire, the historic Speyside distillery established in 1898 by John Duff and now owned by Brown Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel's. Created by acclaimed Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, one of the most respected blenders in modern Scotch whisky, this expression is built on a three cask maturation philosophy that defines the relaunched BenRiach core range from 2020 onward. The single malt is matured for at least twelve years in a marriage of ex sherry casks, ex bourbon barrels, and ex port casks, with the whisky from each cask type expertly blended together to create a layered, sherry rich profile balanced by bourbon barrel vanilla sweetness and port wine fruit depth. Bottled at 46% ABV with no chill filtration and natural cask imparted color, The Twelve delivers complex, dessert leaning Speyside character at a price point that significantly outperforms its peers, and has been widely praised by critics as one of the best value 12 year single malts on the market.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
BenRiach |
| Distillery |
The BenRiach Distillery Co. Limited, Elgin, Morayshire (est. 1898) |
| Producer |
Brown Forman Corporation |
| Master Blender |
Dr. Rachel Barrie |
| Type |
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Three Cask Matured |
| Region |
Speyside, Scotland |
| Mash Bill |
100% Malted Barley |
| Age |
12 Years |
| Cask |
Sherry Casks, Bourbon Barrels, and Port Casks |
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Filtration |
Non Chill Filtered |
| Colouring |
Natural Cask Imparted Colour |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Range |
BenRiach Core Range (2020 relaunch) |
Tasting Notes
Color: Golden bronze with rich amber highlights from the layered cask program.
Nose: Rich maple honey, cocoa, baked forest fruit, sultana grapes, sandalwood, cherries, baked pears, tobacco, quince, and a touch of orange peel.
Palate: Smooth and sherry rich, with maraschino cherry, baked orange, hazelnut, raisins, dark honey, cinnamon, oak spice, caramel, and the cocoa peanuts and jammy sultana character imparted by the port cask portion of the blend.
Finish: Long and lingering, with sultana, spiced mocha, white pepper, cinnamon, ginger, dried fruit, tangerine, and a soft coffee close.
FAQ
What does three cask matured mean here? BenRiach matures separate parcels of the same 12 year old spirit in three different cask types (sherry, bourbon, and port), then expertly blends the three streams together before bottling. This differs from a finishing approach, where one base whisky is moved into a secondary cask for a short period. Here each cask type ages for the full 12 years, allowing the bourbon to contribute vanilla and oak sweetness, the sherry to contribute dried fruit and chocolate depth, and the port to contribute red berry and spice character all in equal balance.
Who is Rachel Barrie? Dr. Rachel Barrie is one of the most respected master blenders in modern Scotch whisky. She is responsible for the BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh portfolios under Brown Forman ownership and has been credited with reviving the entire BenRiach distillery's reputation since the 2020 core range relaunch. Her signature is balanced multi cask maturation and elevated bottling strength.
Why 46% ABV? Most 12 year Speyside single malts are bottled at 40 or 43% ABV with chill filtration. BenRiach bottles The Twelve at 46% without chill filtration to preserve more body, oils, and flavor compounds. This is a deliberate quality choice that gives The Twelve a fuller mouthfeel and more concentrated flavor delivery than most entry level 12 year Speyside competitors at a similar price point.
Where can I buy BenRiach The Twelve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
