Benromach Vintage 2010 Batch 1 Cask Strength - 58.5%

 

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. 

Distillery notes:

Our cask strength single malt whisky delivers rich and spicy sherry aromas, orange zest and dark chocolate with a palate of baked fruit, black pepper and a soft smoky finish.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Old gold, forms a thin line which falls as slow, thin legs.

Nose: Dried fruit, dried orange peel, a little water adds dark chocolate.

Palate: Baked apple with sultanas, caramel toffee, chilli and black pepper brings heat. Water tames the heat and brings out more baked orchard fruit, citrus, smoke and creamy caramel. 

Finish: Dried fruit, gentle smoke gradually comes to the fore.

Summary: This is a whisky which really benefits from the addition of water, opening it up and bringing out so many notes initially hidden behind the chilli pepper heat. No doubt there will be some who say they only drink their whisky cask strength and they enjoy the alcohol burn, but in this case they will be missing out on so much more. It’s a lovely whisky when given the opportunity to open up and shine. Don’t take my word for it though, the beauty of cask strength is that it gives you the opportunity to find your own sweet spot, wherever that may be.

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.