Description

BenRiach The Twelve 12 Years Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Year Of The Horse 2026 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 46%           Age: 12 Years Old           Country: Scotland

The Whisky

Celebrate the spirit of strength and prosperity with the Benriach “The Twelve” (Year of the Horse Limited Edition). Released to commemorate the Lunar New Year in 2026, this 700ml special bottling features a bespoke “Auspicious Clouds” design, symbolizing a journey toward triumph and renown. While the packaging is a vibrant collector’s piece, the liquid inside is the multi-award-winning “The Twelve” core expression, reimagined under the creative expertise of Master Blender Rachel Barrie.

Presented at 46% ABV—a significant step up from the standard 40-43% of many Speyside peers—this single malt is three-cask matured for at least twelve years. It brings together a harmonious marriage of Sherry casks, Bourbon barrels, and Port casks. This eclectic maturation strategy allows Benriach to deliver a “sherry-rich” profile that maintains the distillery’s signature fruit-forward elegance while adding a sophisticated layer of dark berries and spice.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich, autumnal, and sumptuously sweet. You are greeted by the aroma of maple honey and cocoa, immediately followed by baked forest fruits (think blackberries and currants). As it opens, the port and sherry influence reveals sophisticated layers of toasted cinnamon, clove, and a touch of orange blossom, creating a bouquet that Rachel Barrie describes as “capturing the flavours of Benriach in the autumn.”

Palate: The mouthfeel is silky and wonderfully “moreish.” It delivers a primary burst of Maraschino cherries and baked orange, which is quickly enveloped by hazelnut praline and dark chocolate. The triple-cask maturation shines in the mid-palate, where the sultana sweetness of the sherry meets the creamy, vanilla rich backbone of the bourbon wood, all rounded out by a stewed fig depth from the port casks.

Finish: Long, smooth, and elegantly spiced. The finish lingers with a final flourish of spiced mocha and raisins, finally tapering off with a warming trail of toasted oak and a hint of sweet tobacco.

The Distillery

Benriach, founded in 1898 by John Duff, sits on the site of the old “Riach” farm in north Speyside. A unique factual detail: Benriach is one of the few remaining distilleries in Scotland to practice traditional floor malting on-site, a labor-intensive process that coaxes out the full potential and richness of the barley. Known as the “Lab” of Speyside, the distillery is famous for its creative experimentation with eclectic wood types. This “Year of the Horse” edition serves as a totem of that ambition—moving like the wind and surging like flames—honoring both Chinese cultural heritage and the distillery’s own unstoppable journey in whisky craftsmanship.

Overall Review

The Benriach The Twelve (Year of the Horse Edition) is globally reviewed as a “Speyside classic with a festive soul,” praised for its exceptional balance and value. Already a Double Gold winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this expression is lauded for its complexity at 46% ABV. It is a mandatory purchase for collectors of zodiac themed whiskies and those who want a luxurious, “sherry-plus” experience that feels significantly more mature than its 12 year age statement suggests.