Benriach 12 Year
52.9% ABV Speyside Vin de Constance
$125.00 | Pre Order Available
Price on arrival $140.00 You save $15.00 (10%)
Estimated Import Arrival May 15, 2026

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FINN THOMSON WHISKY BENRIACH 12 YEAR OLD, VIN DE CONSTANCE FINISH

Napoleon's drink of choice, now in whisky form

About Finn Thomson Whisky

Finn Thomson is the ninth generation of Scotland's oldest whisky family. The Thomson name traces back to the 1770s through Perthshire, where Peter Thomson Ltd built the beloved Beneagles blended whisky using casks from Longmorn, Clynelish, North British, and other lesser-known workhorses.

Finn Thomson Whisky continues that tradition as an independent single cask bottler. Every release is hand-selected, bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, with natural colour. Eye on the past. Vision for the future.

Region Speyside Distillery Benriach Age 12 years ABV 52.9% Cask Vin de Constance Finish Outturn 216 bottles

A 12 year old Benriach finished in a Vin de Constance cask, the legendary South African sweet wine favoured by Napoleon in exile. This may be the first Scotch whisky ever finished in a cask from this iconic wine.

Distilled September 2013. Bottled October 2025. Single cask at cask strength 52.9%, non-chill filtered, natural colour. 216 bottles. Imported exclusively by The Whiskey Lab.

A whisky and wine finish that demands respect and will rival the traditional European establishment. Finn Thomson

Distillery profile, Benriach

  • Founded in 1898 in the heart of Speyside, near Elgin.
  • Known as one of the finest distilleries for experimental cask releases, with a strong reputation for eclectic maturations including rum, madeira, marsala, and port.
  • Classically Speyside in style: estery and fruit-forward, with a spirit perfect for taking on diverse flavours from a range of maturation styles.
  • Both peated and unpeated expressions are produced. This release is from the unpeated stock.

The story of this cask

It is May 1821, and on the remote island of St Helena in the Southern Atlantic, the exiled Napoleon reaches for a glass of comfort in his dying days. Vin de Constance was the drink of choice, a sweet wine produced in South Africa that has now been immortalised by the French Emperor's affinity towards it.

This is a revolutionary style of cask finishing. Indeed, it may be a first. I am yet to see any other whisky released using a cask from this iconic wine.

Selecting the right whisky for such a wine took some thought, and after deliberation I selected a Benriach cask approaching its twelfth birthday. Benriach is one of the finest distilleries for experimental cask releases. They have a strong reputation for eclectic maturations including rum, madeira, marsala and port. The classically Speyside style of Benriach, estery and fruit-forward, is perfect for taking on the diverse range of flavours from a variety of maturation styles.

This Vin de Constance cask has added layers of apricots and peaches, homemade marmalade with hints of cinnamon and spice. At a robust strength of 52.9%, there are layers of flavour that evolve in the glass over time.

Tasting notes
Nose
Bright stone fruit leads. Apricot and white peach lift out of the glass first, followed by homemade orange marmalade and a dusting of cinnamon. Underneath, Benriach's fruity Speyside character mingles with honey and a waxy floral note. Given time, dried apricot and muscat grape develop.
Palate
Rich and layered. Candied apricot, peach skin, and dried mango arrive with weight, then warm spice kicks in, cinnamon, clove, and a faint ginger. The Vin de Constance sweetness is restrained by the wine's acidity, preventing it from feeling cloying. Mid-palate brings marzipan, orange peel, and a hint of baked pastry.
Finish
Long and spiced. The stone fruit fades to a warm bakery finish, pastry crust and candied citrus, with a lingering cinnamon heat on the tongue. Evolves with each sip, revealing more of the wine's signature depth.
Specification Details
Brand Finn Thomson Whisky
Whisky style Single malt Scotch whisky
Region Speyside
Distillery Benriach
Age 12 years
ABV 52.9%
Volume 700 ml
Cask Vin de Constance Finish
Distillation date 30 September 2013
Bottling date 23 October 2025
Cask number 406
Outturn 216 bottles
Cask strength Yes
Non-chill filtered Yes
Natural colour Yes