It’s always good news when Benromach one of my favorite distilleries in recent years release a new expressions. This one has been released only last week. Benromach used an extra peaty and smoky malted barley this time (34 PPM pre-distillation, which is quite). The whisky has been then
matured in First Fill Sherry hogsheads and laid down in 2010 before being bottled in 2018 , making it an 8 year old. What’s also is nice about this new release is that it’s bottled at a high ABV of 59.9% !, note that there are only 6,500 bottles of this stuff .
Let’s have a taste, shall we?
Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry Cask Matured
59.9% , €74.99 (£64.99)
Nose: ripe blood oranges up front, with a nice Peaty meaty note as well. Sherry sweetness and pepper, cinnamon and black cherries, sweet BBQ meat in marinade, ginger.
Palate: spicy up front with fresh ground pepper, earthy peat, leather and some dried fruit as well. Tobacco leaves, ginger and more sweet smoked meat, then smoked grilled fruit and wood smoke going a long way with hints of chocolate. Very nice.
Finish : sweet smoke, BBQ fruit, chocolate sweet sherry, and some wine tannins nuts and wood,ash, very long.
Conclusion: I was not sure how smoky this one would be, but let me assure you this is very smoky indeed. Sweet smoke, tobacco leaf and an earthy kind of peat works well with sherry cask to create a complex, and in your face sort of Benromach at a very high ABV .It’s quite different to the 10 year old and even the 100 proof, maybe a bit less complex. But I like it very much. Well done. Highly recommended.