Old School

In 2009 Gordon & Macphail – the company that owns Benromach – was able to launch the first ever 10 Year Old of their own production. An important milestone, to be sure. Strangely enough, I did not do well immediately. When it was relaunched in 2014, in a smart new packaging, it did get noticed and since then it sells like cupcakes. The Benromach 10 Year Old even won quite a few awards already. It was followed by a Benromach 10 Year Old 100° Proof (meaning 57,0% ABV), which is also met with nothing but kudos. Well, there is little choice but to give it a try then, eh?

The nose is very special – a bit old school. I can hardly call it fruity. I do get some blood oranges, but then also some shoe polish, mahsed potatoes and some salt. Loads of walnuts and a bit of eucalyptus. Yes, very special, but also very good.

The whisky has a great body. It hits the taste buds with walnuts, apples and blood oranges, autumn leaves and some stockfish. A nice smokiness develops (that has nothing to do with peat) with some spices. I am reminded of pepper, wasabi and ginger. Hint of chewing tobacco. The saltiness becomes big. Great balance.

The finish is very long, dry like leather on oranges and walnuts.

Wow, what a great whisky indeed. Not for beginners, I dare venture. Adding a teaspoon of water is no luxury.

Interesting, rich, with the aroma of rubber and smoked meat, red apples and chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon, the taste is dry, slightly sweet with hints of dried fruits, honey and pastries, the finish is long, dry, with nuances of apples and dark chocolate.
Well, good for a decade! It is very pleasant that so far even the basic releases of distilleries can be of high quality, with good work with barrels. Although the elevated fortress certainly does its job.

RATING: 86pts - [n22, t22, f21, b21] → | 86-89: Remarkable |

Tried at a bar. Excellent stuff.
Light smoke with fine sherry sweetness. Good depth of flavours

Delicious leather malt with a fine smoky note and plenty of reserve to dilute / experiment.

Name: Benromach
Series: 100% Proof
Distillery / Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Age: 10yo
Distilled / Bottled: Bd
ABV: 57%
Casks: Bourbon & Sherry Casks
Cask # Bd
Bottle: N / A
wb # 58640
***
????: gold
????: sweet, lacquered oak sweet, compared to the usual 10yo here like feeling more age-old, more intense, cool, nothing alco
????: sweet, bourbon, don't even feel alcohol, slightly stinging, goes off quite quickly, too bad
????: stinging, quite short
***
I think I prefer the traditional 10yo, ram as if everything is smooth (for its age) and it fits together a little bit here
????: 4/10
????: 85/100