PBMichiganWolverine
Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry Cask Matured 2010
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
May 3, 2020 (edited October 29, 2020)
Here’s another sample that has traveled more than most of us here. From Scotland, to New Zealand, to Virginia to New Jersey, generously sent by my kiwi buddy @Soba45 .
So, I poured my sample ready for my Saturday night routine: watching Netflix or Amazon Prime, relaxing over a dram. This evening’s show was with my kids—-they’ve been hooked on Planets by Nova; a documentary on how the universe and each planet came to form and what role each had to play. I’m so proud these two youngsters are watching science shows, as opposed to me that watched Scooby Do or Brady Bunch when I was their age. They’re watching the role of Jupiter in Earth’s formation, while I was learning why a guy that looked as if he was homeless and a drunk drug addict was hanging around a dog that talked in bad grammar.
Anyway, so—-at first sip I was surprised why this got great reviews. Seemed too metallic. Too young, the peat - sherry combo, which is my favorite, just not well integrated. But an entire 30 minutes through, all the sudden the flavors melded together. The peat isn’t anything like Islay. I’d say it’s more like when Balvenie does it’s annual peat. It’s more earthy and mushroom-y. The sherry seems light. It’s not a heavy hand, like Lagavulin Distiller. More like maybe 2nd use sherry casks. I think this started off more in the “2” range, and then settled in “3.5-4”. If you’re a fan of peat-sherry, it’s worth the try. I had bought a bottle for $70...at that price, it’s definitely worth it, considering something equivalent like Balvenie Peat Week is about $30 more.
Thanks @Soba45 for the pour!
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@jonwilkinson7309 yeah——that Planets is really good. It’s on Amazon Prime. Well made documentary on roles of different planets during Earth’s formation. It’s a series of 5-6 episodes. We’re on Saturn, where the “ oh my god” moment was learning that Saturn’s one moon is in the same formation state as when Earth started.
@jonwilkinson7309 at around $70, this is pretty good. Won’t blow your socks off, but that’s okay.
Had you not watched Scooby Doo, I would have been deprived of the best laugh I've had all week. Plus, you've given me a great documentary to watch at a time where I'd much prefer to hear about events from four billon years ago as opposed to the news of the day. Very interesting review! I bought a bottle of this along with the non-sherry peated version sometime last year. I opened the non-sherry bottle, which was enjoyable but not surprising in any way. It sounds like the sherry cask is adding more than just sherry sweetness. I have yet to open the sherry cask finished bottle, but I'm intrigued.
No worries. Glad it was worth the journey! Yeah it was really a weird ass dram. I swung from not liking it to liking to hmmm. It's just quite a full on jumble of flavors and sharp characteristics. I think in the end all a bit too much for me!