Benromach 10yo...

Benromach 10yo (43.0%): When I walked into Federal Wine and Spirits last Saturday and told Joe Howell that I want to get a nice everyday whisky for the coming Fall he started to pour some Benromach 10yo even before I finished my sentence. And spot on, I got the bottle right away... Benromach is purchased in 1993 by Gordon & MacPhail after being mothballed for ten years and started distilling again in 1998. They released their first 10yo expression distilled entirely in the new stills in 2009. The whisky is a marriage of 80% ex-bourbon barrel and 20% sherry hogshead aged spirit. It is matured an additional year in first fill Oloroso casks after that. Color: Bright, crystal clean saffron color. Nose: Sweet... Warm honey, vanilla, maple candy with sparse smoke. Damp black garden turf and wet burlap sacks. My father's Captain Black Gold pipe tobacco and his decaying leather stationery on his desk. With a splash of water sweet navy rum, raisins, prunes and dried black currant aromas raise. Palate: Butter melting on a warm brioche, sweet potato fries and millionaire's short bread. Crunchy lightly peated malt you get the chance to taste during the distillery visits. Mouth covering, oily and warming... Garden turf is still there but drier and dustier this time. English porter beer and Harveys Bristol Cream shaken together. Adding water brings salt in the mix; salted butter and Ritz crackers. Finish: Pretty long with toasted oak, roasted almond skins and ginger. Overall: A very good whisky setting the standards pretty high at the nose and keeping it there all the way to the end. Impressive balance of baked goods, honey and peat and a great addition to any whisky enthusiast's cabinet. I am pretty amped to try their other expressions in near future, maybe the cask strength...

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