Gordon and MacPhail, Elgin, Shop Tasting, 4th May 2024, whisky #6 Nose: Orange juice, tropical fruit juice, baked banana, vanilla custard, honey, dried cranberries, gooseberries, poached pears, surprisingly light and lively oak, a suggestion of tobacco. Dilution had little impact on the nose other than lifting the citrus aromas (but see below). Palate: Creamy and slightly sweet arrival centered on orange, honey and strawberries. As it develops it gains balancing dry notes of hay, tobacco and cinnamon. A further progression sees spice, herbal and mild tannic flavours appear. There is a light prickle from the 56% abv but it’s less than you would expect. Adding water makes more difference to the palate than it did to the nose, with orange notes again being highlighted. It's a very well balanced and seductive palate. Finish: Medium/Long: Orange and delicately spiced honey, with just a touch of wood spice in the aftertaste. A delicious whisky, this is one of three old Benromachs I’ve now tasted, all of which were distilled and casked prior to the distillery's purchase by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Although modern Benromach is different to the whisky that was made there prior to the 1990s there is still a similarity, which is surprising given that the distillery was mostly rebuilt from 1997-1998. Like the 35 and 40 year old expressions that I had tasted previously at the distillery this was crisp, soft and devoid of peat. All three demonstrated maturity and elegance, but none was bombastic or challenging. This was a very welcome surprise final dram at the Gordon & MacPhail tasting and it was unanimously voted the best whisky of the day. I did try it both neat and diluted, but given that we had just one pour to play with I was hesitant to add too much water as it was already delightful au naturel. I can’t remember ever having had a bad Benromach. My tasting journal tells me I’ve now had 12 different expressions from them with an average rating of 87, including two 89s and two 90s. That makes Benromach one of my most highly rated distilleries. Yep, sounds about right. Recommended. “Outstanding” : 90/100 (5 stars)