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.

`Benromach 10 CS 100 Proof / 57.1%`
The aroma of peat-pepper, with a slight hues of fruit, closed, then revealed in rubber and smoked meat, red apples, chocolate cookies with cinnamon, orange peel and malt. On the palate dryness of wood, the sweetness of dried fruits, a little honey and baking. The finish is dry, tart wood, apples, astringency and bitterness of dark chocolate.

A much more intense and thoughtful history this time, on the floor of the head is exactly above the base ten. It takes a long time to open, but it's worth it, a mix of red apples, rubber, and either baking, or cookies, playing straight, well, very nice. It is not necessary to add water to it, let it stand for about 20-30 minutes better, then everything “climbs out” of it, which makes it tasty. Yearly release.
`Score 86`
© belwhisky.club

Like the normal, only stronger and more intense. First a little more alcohol, then a lot of vanilla, some fruit and the nice, slightly sooty note. In the mouth then very strong on fruit, oak, vanilla, spices and light, sooty peat, as well as menthol. Depart ment then a lot of menthol, oak, some soot and towards the end a bit sweeter. Slightly sulphurous sherry flavors and some tobacco. Great part.