Benriach Malting Season Review

The new Benriach Malting Season is a nod to the period of time (1900-1965) when the Benriach distillery was closed for distilling, but kept its floor malting up and running. During this time Benriach was mostly malting for its original namesake, Longmorn. Like other early distilleries created during the late 19th century, its founder, John Duff, named the distillery after his existing distillery and Benriach was originally known as Longmorn #2.

The Pattison whisky crisis forced Benriach to close just 2 years after it had opened and after six and a half decades of serving as a floor malting facility, it was opened again and distilled for a while. Eventually, it was shut down again, but reopened in 2008 back to its “former glory”. There’s a lot more to Benriach’s history, but hopefully, this gives you a bit more on the history they’re referencing with this name.

Made from 100% Benriach floor-malted Concerto barley, the Malting Season is a unique new release from the Speyside distillery, which is what we’re really here to talk about: the liquid. So let’s get to drinkin’ and talk about the whisky in the glass instead of the whisky in the past.

Benriach Malting Season – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Speyside, Scotland

Distiller: Benriach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Concerto Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, New Charred Oak
Age: NAS (~8 years, distilled Nov 2, 2012)
ABV: 48.7%

Natural Color

Bottles: 6,672 (from 23 casks)

Price: $150*

Related Whiskies

BenRiach The Original Ten
BenRiach The Twelve
BenRiach 25 Years
BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 2
BenRiach Single Barrel Virgin Oak

White background tasting shot with the Benriach Malting Season sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Today, we honor tradition once a year during our spring ’Malting Season’, a special time when we create our own malted barley on site.” – BenRiach

Benriach Malting Season Tasting Notes

EYE
Pale straw

NOSE
Honied fruit, vanilla taffy, Banana Quik, malt and a touch spirity.

Not a whole lot going on here, it comes through super light and airy.

PALATE
Hay-like malt, Banana Quik, honey, dried fruit, nuts and vanilla taffy notes with a touch of spice and wax.

Heavier than the aroma but, again, quite light and airy. I’m just not getting a ton on the delivery and I have to really take my time.

FINISH
Medium -> Banana Quik, vanilla and wax fade to cinnamon-heavy spiced nuts.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a light, slightly watery, feel.

Benriach Malting Season – Overall Thoughts and Score

It’s a light, airy whisky, heading towards thin and watery. There doesn’t seem to be a ton of cask influence, or much of anything really, in this dram. It’s a good way to get closer to the core spirit of Benromach, which appears to be nice, but the light oak-based notes feel underdeveloped and underwhelming.

That underwhelming character stays as the whisky sits and noticeably doesn’t open with time, air, or even a bit of water. In fact, after a while, the only notes that continually stick out are the Banana Quik and cinnamon. Everything else just fades to the back and it feels closer to one-dimensional. I love the distillery, but I’m not a fan of this Benriach Malting Season.

SCORE: 2/5 (below average, flawed, not entirely enjoyable – C | 73-76)

*Disclosure: The sample for this Scotch review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.