Benromach 15 - 43%
First established in 1898 in Forres, Benromach is a traditional Speyside distillery, acquired in 1993 by Gordon & MacPhail and reopened in 1998 following a period of extensive refitting.
The mission of the owners is to keep things simple and, in doing so, produce single malt whisky which not only imparts character but also pays tribute to old Speyside traditions. Casks are all hand-filled and maturation is in traditional dunnage warehouses. The belief at Benromach is that making whisky by hand is the best way to guarantee genuine character in the finished product.
Matured exclusively in first-fill casks, Benromach single malts share a subtle smoky character. They use locally grown Scottish barley, malted with a little peat smoke to recall the old Speyside tradition of topping up fires with peat as coal levels began to run low.
From the distillery
Only ever matured in the highest quality oak casks, our fifteen year old single malt whisky gives cracked pepper, charred oak, apples, dark chocolate and forest fruits with rich sherry notes and a touch of smoke.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Old gold, forms a thin line which falls as slow, thin legs.
Nose: Sweet caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, tropical fruit, hint of smoke.
Palate: Dried fruit, vanilla, chocolate, slightly herbal, a hint of roasted pineapple, dark berries, caramel toffee, baking spices, black pepper spice.
Finish: The notes of dried fruit gradually dissipate, black pepper and dry peat smoke linger.
Summary: A lovely, rich, slightly creamy whisky with plenty of complexity and balance. Produced from 80% first-fill ex-bourbon and 20% first fill sherry hogsheads, the sherry really shines through without becoming overly dominant. The final flourish of gentle peat smoke really adds to the overall experience. At £65 for a 15 year old whisky you could do a lot worse.
This sample was part of a 5 dram tasting pack, purchased from The Spirits Embassy and used for a tasting session with Distillery Manager, Keith Cruickshank.
If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Benromach distillery, follow the link to the company website.
