Benromach 2009 triple distilled

Benromach are on a roll, and have been releasing some interesting whiskies in the last few years, apart from the staple 10 and 100 proof which have become favorites of many whisky lovers, they have released a few finishes such as the Sasicaia , Hermitage as well as older whiskies (the 35 yo for example). This time they have decided to experiment with triple distillation, meaning the liquid was distilled once in the wash still, and then twice in the spirit still, before being matured in first-fill bourbon barrels for eight years. Triple distillation strips the heavier chemical compounds from the liquid, thus making the whisky lighter / “smoother” or so. Quite an interesting experiment, let’s see how the benromach liquid changes with an additional round of distillation. at 50% abv this comes at a nice strength, and there are ‘only’ 15,600 bottles available.

Benromach Triple Distilled 2009 ,50% abv , £44

Nose: The nose does feel a bit ‘lighter’ than the regular 10, with most of the smoke stripped down, the fruity side is still similar with some apple / pear , some wood and citrus notes as well. a few hints of smoke (but very subtle), orange peel, and toasted wood, ginger and fresh gouache paint.

Palate: The initial mouthfeel is quite nice, with a heavier feeling than the nose, but again, much lighter than the 10-year-old , lemon drops, more smoke, and bitter wood, a certain waxy feeling to it, and more of the gouache, pepper and pear, even some bitter grapefruit, slight vanilla and metal.

Finish: Lemony, zesty, with smoke, drying.

Bottom Line:

This is a good whisky indeed, but it suffers when compared to the excellent 10-year-old. It feels lighter as expected with more zest, and less smoke, the sherry is not present at all, and it feels ‘thinner’. An interesting experiment, but it does not match the quality, and spectrum of flavours of the regular 10-year-old. However, if you’re a fan of the distillery and feel like trying something a bit different, it’s a good option.

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