There has been a lot of press about the Benromach 10 lately. This tiny two-person distillery has been impressing everyone from Ralfy to the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition to the Spirits Business… and I can see why.
Benromach is fond of saying that they’re recreating the pre-1960s Speyside flavor which has a bit of peat in it and while I don’t have too much to compare it to in that regards, what I can say is that it delivers in the complexity department. That complexity comes from the obviously expertly distilled, lightly peated, spirit resting in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels (80/20) for at least 9 years before being blended together and finished for at least a year in ex-oloroso casks, giving it dimension and depth.
Benromach 10 Info
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: Benromach
Mashbill: 100% Malted barley
Cask: 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry & 12 month Oloroso cask finish
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Price: $55
Benromach 10 Review
EYE
Brownish yellow
NOSE
Buttery malt, rich fruit and a splash of citrus followed by notes of mineral water, orange frosting and a touch of peat and hay. It’s a wonderful aroma – I could sit and sniff this for hours, but then I’d be depriving my taste buds of what comes next.
PALATE
Rich malt and fruit are accompanied by notes of spice, butterscotch, sherry sweetness, a bit of peat and a light bit of Canada mints that popup towards the end. Just a bit more complexity or dimension and this thing would go from great to amazing. So good.
FINISH
Medium with notes of fruit, butterscotch, malt and golden raisins.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced on a medium body and a silken texture.
OVERALL
Ralfy giving the Benromach 10 “Whisky of The Year” at the end of 2014 was fully justified. Not that his opinion needs to be justified or anything, but I now get why he gave it the award he did. It’s aromatic, flavorful and best of all affordable. It’s a simply fantastic whisky that won’t break the bank and while I didn’t have enough of a sample to test in some cocktails I can tell it would work incredibly well in that arena as well.
SCORE: 88/100
*Disclosure: This sample of Benromach 10 was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
