Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke (D.2012, B.2022) / 46% / 0.7l
- Although Speyside is not widely known for heavily peated whiskies, Benromach Distillery has been experimenting with them for a while. The original release of Peat Smoke hit the market in 2007 and was a great success.
Product description
Speyside isn’t a region renowned for producing peaty, smoky whiskies, but Benromach Distillery has been experimenting with them for years.
Each year, its owners (Gordon & MacPhail) produce a small amount of malt spirit that has a phenolic content equal to, or sometimes exceeds, Islay whiskies such as Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig (previous releases have ranged from 35ppm to 67ppm). In the case of this edition, it is 55ppm. Distilled in 2012, the whisky spent less than a decade in first-fill bourbon casks and was bottled at 46% abv without chill filtration in late autumn 2022. Since 2020, Benromach’s presentation has been inspired by the sign that once appeared on the roof of the peat kiln, the red doors of the distillery buildings and the red brick chimney.
Nose : lots of smoke, vanilla, honey, white chocolate, pears, apples, lemon zest, white pepper, traces of tobacco and toasted oak.
Palate: peat smoke, vanilla pudding, marzipan, milk fudge, sponge cake, lemon jam, baked apples, notes of fennel and oak.
Finish : quite long, smoky, with notes of peat smoke, vanilla, honey, toffee, apples, lemon peel, white pepper and oak.