We’ve had all types of expressions within the Contasts collection from Benromach distillery. Assume air-dried vs. kiln-dried oak, virgin oak, Cara Gold malt and Bordeaux casks as an example… For 2024 they selected the largest distinction of all: they unnoticed the trademark peat and created an unpeated expression.
Benromach Contrasts: Unpeated 9 yo 2014 (46%, OB 2024, sherry + bourbon casks)
Nostril: a pleasant trace of paraffin up entrance, with biscuity notes and a mixture of vanilla and minty notes. Hints of tangerines, peaches and yellow apple, together with lime. Nonetheless some minerality and a transparent Benromach footprint regardless of the absence of smoke. Then a light trace of ginger as properly.
Mouth: extra sweetness, now a bit extra fudgy together with some raisins and sweetened natural tea. Apricot and apple once more. Then again to barely tangy citrus and this chalky minerality. Liquorice and refined mint.
End: medium size, with a bit extra peppermint, herbs, candy malty notes and mineral echoes.
Peat, no peat… good spirit is nice spirit. It’s good to see the distinctive profile of Benromach nonetheless stands, even should you take the (gentle) peat out. Additionally, this comes at 46% ABV, which I’ve all the time thought must be the energy of the traditional 10 too. Already obtainable from the Benromach store and LMdW.
Whereas we’re at it, let’s add a fast evaluate of a latest batch of the cornerstone Benromach 10 12 months Previous.
Benromach 10 yo (43%, OB 2024, sherry + bourbon casks)
Nostril: oilier in fact, with a stunning dustiness, extra paraffin and hay. Additionally chalk and drier hints of pine and dusty barley. Simply the lightest whiff of ashy smoke. Then some gentle peach and apple sweetness within the background, however far much less distinguished than within the unpeated expression. Maybe a bit extra sherry-forward too, or so it appears.
Mouth: whereas the noses had been clearly totally different, they’re nearer collectively now, I believe. The mint and eucalyptus, citrus and natural notes – all right here as properly. It’s solely the ashy smoke and dusty word that comes a bit later that units them aside.
End: barely longer, now much more firmly on mineral notes and ashes. For those who return to the unpeated model now, it turns into actually fruity.
Nonetheless a traditional, slightly approachable but in addition stuffed with character. and flavour. This one is on the market from The Whisky Change or Grasp of Malt, amongst many different retailers. Rating: 88/100
