Benriach Authenticus Peated 21 Year Old
The BenRiach ‘Authenticus’ is another peated expression of BenRiach but this time matured for a minimum of 21 years. Just 4,800 bottles of this 21 year old Authenticus are released annually.
The maltings stand beside the distillery and twice a week the prize barley is delivered to be steeped, spread and raked until it begins to sprout. Gentle heat then works its magic and the raw grain becomes the essential ingredient of a Scotch Malt Whisky. Re opening in 1965 after a 65 year absence from the market, the Benriach distillery was virtually rebuilt by The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. in 1985 and enlarged to four stills. Its product is highly regarded by blenders and has been available as an ‘official’ single malt bottling only since 1994.
The story of BenRiach – ‘the Hill of the Red Deer’, is typical of the great Speyside distilleries. Built in 1898, the distillery is sited amongst the rolling barley fields that rise to the foothills of the Grampian mountains. The barley used in crafting the whisky was grown around the distillery and the water was, and still is, drawn through the rock that lies deep below the distillery.
In April 2004, the distillery, which was previously under the ownership of Chivas Brothers, was acquired by 3 entrepreneurs (2 of which are South African), led by Scotch Whisky industry veteran Billy Walker. The BenRiach Distillery Company was then born.
