Whisky Focus - BenRiach 1978 Firkin Cask

BenRiach’s Rare 1978 Firkin Cask yields just forty sublime bottles.

Speyside's BenRiach Distillery has announced its most exclusive bottling ever, the BenRiach 1978 Firkin Cask.

Only forty bottles of this exquisite 32 year old single malt will be available, making this an ultra-rare BenRiach expression.

The bottling follows the discovery of an unusual "Firkin" cask at the Elgin distillery.

BenRiach’s Managing Director Billy Walker takes up the story: "It’s always exciting to discover exceptionally rare and unique casks in our warehouses, and BenRiach has more than its fair share!

"Upon unearthing this Firkin, we knew we had found something truly extraordinary and sublime which will delight even the most demanding of BenRiach whisky aficionados."

Mr Walker explained Firkin casks were traditionally used for the maturation of fine ale and the name is derived from the Middle Dutch word "vierdekijn", meaning ‘fourth’ – in other words, a quarter of a full-size barrel.

"Because a Firkin’s size is smaller than that of a standard barrel, there's a greater surface to liquid ratio when the spirit undergoes maturation, and this imparts a more intense, fuller flavour," he added.

"This cask, number 6337, is one of the only two Firkins in our possession. Distilled and filled to cask on June 26, 1978, and bottled at 40.1% earlier this year, the style of the whisky is classic Speyside. Due to the size of the cask, and the age of the whisky, it has generated only forty bottles, so it's bound to become a much sought-after collector’s item."

The packaging has been designed to reflect the super-premium nature of the whisky, with the bottle silk-screened and the closure sealed via a wax dip, all of which is housed in a beautiful hand-crafted wooden box.

The forty bottles will be available from September 2011.

Mr Walker’s tasting notes indicate just how special this 1978 single cask bottling is, see below.
 

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