Benromach 10 Year

A bit smokey, but overall good flavour

Nice and peated. I like it, but can’t quite reconcile the peat followed by sweetness. Have to have a dram of JW Double Black and compare :).

Rating: 14/23 N: Some musty, slightly cheesy Benromach funk. A bit of vegetal note eventually works its way out, along with a faint hint of cherry. Some faint spices that make me think of black and white pepper. Some dry smoke eventually lifts up from the surface of this, in typical Benromach fashion. This is a mild nose without much going on. P: Much bolder than the nose! Dry smoke hits with some spices (lots of cinnamon, then ginger and clove, possibly with some black pepper). At the same time though, there's sweet sherry fruit coming forward. It's cherry with orange zest. A little vanilla as well, which gives way to some flint. It's hard to tell to what extent there's wood behind the smoke, but considering the spices, there must be. F: Dry smoke with the spices from the palate. Maybe some hints of other flavors lingering, but not a lot. - Conclusion - More sherry character than in Benromach 15, but less nuance. The maturity is greater in the Benromach 15, but it has that big, bitter layer of smoke and wood that is pretty aggressive in comparison with this. This and the Benromach 15 are quite competitive. This is definitely the more approachable profile with a greater overall balance, but it certainly tastes younger. It's a tough call. This is more enjoyable, but from a technical standpoint perspective, is it actually better? Dalmore 12 (15/23) is mellower and showcases more of its grain, as well as a deft balance of its casks. It's a relief to get away from that dry, bitter smoke when tasting the Dalmore. I'm disappointed to come to this conclusion, but I think that the Dalmore is better than this. I won't say that it's a big win, but the profile here just doesn't really work out. The gap isn't all that big though. Monkey Shoulder (14/23) shows some more youthful ethanol, but it's better balanced than this is. It isn't all that easy to choose between the two. I think that they're about the same quality. This can have a 14, but it seems like a low 14.

Rondeur. Finement tourbé.

Mostly malty on the nose. A splash of baked goods and mildly herbal edge. Could be some green apple, but if so, it’s hidden under layers of dry pastry. A whiff of earth. The slightest hint of smoke but hard to tell if that’s imagined - either way it tamps any remaining fruitiness from the nose. Far more savory than sweet. Nice weight for a ten year. Malt again carries the day. Unsweetened white chocolate. Oak and some astringent tannins present themselves. Classic speyside fruit is hidden somewhere under the surface but is locked away by other elements in the profile, like the flavor of apple skins without the juicy sweet flesh. Smoke is definitely there on the taste, which makes this unique, but I find it unbalances rather than interests the palate. The dryness, astringency, and phenols create a lasting finish but not one I particularly crave. Not totally objectionable, but I have a sweet tooth and this doesn’t so much of anything for me personally. Closest comparable is Aerstone Land Cask and that was $20 cheaper - can’t recommend, especially at MSRP (which is more than what I paid).

N: briny peat, raisin, light smoke, honey, granola T: honey, almond, nice dry spice, F: lovely peat