
September 19, 2017

New Benromach and the crazy 15

So, that would be two Benromach, one of them being very new – and very unusual. But an unusual Benromach, isn’t that a tautology!

Benromach 2009/2017 ‘Triple Distilled’ (50%, OB, 2017)

This is a brand new Benromach that was triple distilled. It went through the wash still once, and twice through the spirit still, so I imagine it became lighter and kind of thinner, but we shan’t expect some kind of Auchentoshan from the north… Colour: white wine. Nose: not too sure… This is clearly Benromach, with this sooty/smoky profile, but there are also bags and bags of pears, not sure why. Because of the youth? Because of the triple distillation? Because of the cuts? All that? With water: almost gone are the pears, enter bags of ashes, charcoal, and perhaps a little plastic of Bakelite. Mouth (neat): even more Benromach, just less fat and oily than some regular Benromach – if Benromach can be ‘regular’. Some smoked pears as well, some black pepper, and the usual ashy side. With water: fatter, more lemony, and with more oak pepper. Some newish oak involved, I suppose. Finish: medium, a tad leafier. Lemon-flavoured green tea and a little nutmeg, plus a fizzy side in the aftertaste. Comments: even if I like the 10 and the 10 CS frankly better, I find this new variant pretty good. SGP:452 - 84 points.

Benromach 15 yo (43%, OB, +/-2016)

I really liked this one in 2015 (WF 86), and subsequently decided to follow it almost every year. Method, always method. Colour: full gold. Nose: yeah, we’re two good steps above the Triple, with a wider spectrum, more ashes, shoe polish, camphor, rosemary and other herbs, tobacco, petrol, sour dough… It’s really not the first time we’re finding some kind of Sprinbankness in Benromach, is it? Mouth: excellent, just very unusual. Huge quantities of caraway, burnt herbs, bitter leaves, chewing tobacco, leather, paraffin, burnt vegetables, bitter oranges… It’s really odd, and I really like this. Finish: long, bitter. Artichoke cordial, dry herbal drinks, tar, grass juice, chlorophyll, chewing wax… Comments: they seem to have further improved something here, and I just love it. It’s just not whisky for your old uncle who’s drinking Bell’s. SGP:362 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Benromach I've tasted so far