Slainte-Mhath
Benromach Peat Smoke 2005
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
June 13, 2018 (edited November 25, 2020)
Peated non-Islay whiskies are shooting up like mushrooms in these days, but are they really worth your attention? The nose of this Benromach 'Peat Smoke' is intensely sweet, phenolic and oily with notes of spiced apple pie, anise and dried herbs. Zesty and bitter in the arrival, the taste develops with pineapple, over-brewed tea and hints of salt, all surrounded by sickly sweet honey and vegetal peatiness. After a flat and almost abrupt finish, featuring white pepper, tannins and traces of fennel, I have to admit that this expression is 'just another peated malt'.
RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]
40.0
EUR
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
Additional comment: I think my main issue with this peated Speysider is the lack of typical 'Benromach complexity' (see also my other reviews), as well as the unbalanced and at times unpleasant sweet- and bitterness. Maybe a combination of both first and refill bourbon casks would have been better? I still think that Benromach is doing some excellent whisky, but as @PBMichiganWolverine pointed out in a recent review of 'a weaker Kilchoman', this is the first time I am actually a bit disappointed with a favorite distillery!
Additional information: This review is for the 2005 vintage, bottled in 2014.