Benromach 21 Year

This is pleasing to the eye. Dark honey with a red hue. Lace forms almost immediately at rest and climbs 1/4" up the glass after 5 minutes. A swirl leaves a crystal clear coating that hangs for 20 seconds before it starts to thin and recede, first as small little tears in the coat, and then consolidation into large, heavy tendrils that are spaced remarkably evenly around the glass, eventually ending up near the bottom after a minute and a half, where the lace immediately again forms. Nose is honeyed apple slices, a sort of generic fruit salad, and cinnamon. There is no smoke to speak of. Palate is warm and luxurious, sweetly coating from front to back, with brown-sugared apple slices, apple butter, and dark clover honey. The smoke finally makes an appearance in the middle, but it's a cameo solely to usher in the close, where the oak finally shows up to give a drying astringency that lingers for a few seconds before clearing to a sweet jamminess that mirrors the nose. Nicely balanced, and enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. I think others have said it, but I feel this whole line could use another 3-5 points of ABV - just enough where the body has real heft, and the flavors pop, and the transitions are less subtle. I find the 10, 15 and 21 to be minor variations on the same theme, with the 21 so smooth as to be borderline dull, the 10 lacking complete flavor development, and the 15 being that Goldilocks sweet spot. All three are good, but this will likely be my last bottle of the 21, while the 15 and 10 will remain in circulation.

Semisweet, oily, rich, mildly spicy, malty, dried red fruits, orange peel, nutty sherry, raisins and a bit of earthy peat smoke. A very pleasant Scotch and right in my wheelhouse. Distiller Review No. 914 8/9/25 it’s lost a bit of luster. Everything about it seems a bit duller now. Lowered 1/4 point.

Toffee, slight fruit and mature flavours like tabacco and leather

Honestly a bit harsh especially given the price point, but incredibly aromatic flavors and scents

Nose: Subtle peat smoke, like pipe tobacco. Citrus oils, stone fruits, vanilla, brown sugar and leather. With water more citrus comes forward but the smoke is further suppressed, and overall the nose becomes more rounded and balanced. Over time the smoke reasserts itself. Palate: Dry arrival with lots of spices, pepper, salt and orange oil. A hint of smoke. Water sweetens the arrival a little and makes the spice notes less spiky (more like cooked curry spices rather than fresh) however it also introduces an astringent sourness. The texture is good but not remarkable. Finish: Long. Drying. Some preserved ginger and orange marmalade. This is the more elegant and aloof older brother of the 15 year old but it does not have the heft and gravitas of the younger malt. The 15 definitely presents as “bigger” and is notably more smoky, and for me it is simply more fun. Like most smoky whiskies, at around 18 years of age Benromach starts to noticeably lose pungency, and given the particularly fine, warm and soothing nature of Benromach peating I see that as an overall negative. This is a fine malt but I do not feel tempted to buy it. Tasted at the distillery. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)