Benromach Peated Sherry Cask

Not tried it yet but recommended it to you a few weeks back when you said you were looking for another smoky whisky.

Obviously I was hoping you'd buy it and then send me a sample

@RianC The MOM tasting notes read well:

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt Nose: Thyme honey and grilled pineapple, with BBQ developing alongside earthy malt. Palate: Rum-soaked raisins, peppercorn, quince and a hint of mint leaf. Finish: Flamed orange peel, dry smoke and lingering maple syrup.

I see that "earthy malt" there - Mmmmm. I can't quite think what quince tastes like though - all remember of quince was my Nanas quince jelly - but that was very sweet. Worth a crack I reckon mate (though at that price it would be nice to try before you buy).

@Wierdo - Brain like a sieve then!? Yes, it does look rather tasty doesn't it? If I can scrape some more cash together I may have to indulge . . . and I'm sure a sample could be arranged. Speaking of, have you tried all the ones I sent yet? How did you find the Hazelburn?

@Hewie - I'll see how the standard peat smoke works first for sure. Quince is not something I've eaten much I have to say but from memory it's quite tart and gooseberry like. Usually eaten as a jam or baked fruit (I think).

@RianC I would totally spring for this if I could. Sadly, they don't ship to the US (and I couldn't receive in my state if they could).

I am a fan of the standard Benromach 10yo which has a proportion of sherry casks similar to Springbank 12yo Cask Strength. I am an even bigger fan of the Benromach 10yo 100 proof (or Imperial Proof here in the US). My favorite bottle of the 10yo 100 Proof (I have had 3 now) I scored a 95. But the other two bottles all scored in the 90's for me. I really enjoy their balance of peat and sherry in the 100 Proof version. I would LOVE to try peated Benromach in fully matured sherry cask.

I will say that I have had The vintage 2002 and 2003 Cask strength 10 year old (no sherry) as well as the Peat Smoke 2002, 2005 and 2006. I would put all of these bottles in the mid 80's score wise. I haven't enjoyed any from this range as much as when they have a little sherry cask in the mix. For example, the 8 yo Hermitage distilled in 2005 was really good and I scored it a 90.

But this is all my preference, and your taste may vary (as could this bottle). BUT . . . based on my experience with Benromach I would totally take the plunge. I love what that distillery is doing.

Let us know how you find your bottle of Peat Smoke (and which year it is). My favorite was the 2005-2014.

@Nock - Will do, thanks! I'm also a big Benromach fan. I've had lots of the standard 10 (and picked another up recently for a great price) and find it to be a great 'all-rounder'. Some bottles are also definitely peatier than others. Have you tried the 15? Very good for its age and price and I think I may prefer it to the 10/100 - loads of that rich, tobacco, earthy funk with big complexity! If I ever have the cash to splurge on a much older bottling I think I'd be looking for something from this distillery.

Yes, I have had the 15yo. And it was good. But I am too much of an ABV snob and 43% is way too low for me. Especially when I need to fork out over $100 for a bottle. The last bottle I saw on the shelf was $115. No way. When I spend over $100 the whisky needs to either be cask strength or well over 50% ABV. If I want a Benromach in that range I am picking up the 10yo 100 Proof (called Imperial Proof here) again which is typically around $100.

I realize you are probably picking this up for far less. Probably around the $60 range if my conversion is correct. For that I would absolutely pick up a bottle. But not at twice the price.

I am always confused about how some bottles appear here for less than in the UK and other bottles (like Benromach and Springbank) seem to be far more expensive.

@RianC I've tried everything except the Hazelburn. Had the Lot 40s the other night. Enjoyed them. I think I might aim to keep a bottle of Rye around. It makes a nice change to malt.

@Wierdo - Yeah I like having a rye around, probably more than bourbon at the moment. Don't know if you've tried Bulleit Rye but, if not, definitely give it a go. Sometimes can be picked up for £20 - £25 on Amazon!

@RianC err yeah. I have tried Bulliet Rye. I'd put a sample in a bottle for you! I'll drink that one myself then!

Speaking of samples. Last nighy I opened a Port Charlotte 10 heavily peated. Have you tried that yet? Or shall I put some in a bottle for you?

@Wierdo how did you like the PC 10? I'm debating between that one and the islay barley 2011. Trying to find time to go to a Bruichladdich tasting this week with their master distiller so hope to sample a few and get some ideas.

@RikS for what its worth my opinion is that the Islay Barley is more farmy, thick malty, and peaty. The 10yo is a bit more fruity with citrus notes and not as much farm and malt in the midrange.

My preference is for the Islay Barley, but I like both. But clearly if you can attend a tasting with Adam more power to you! He was a great guy and signed some of my bottles at the distillery.

@Wierdo - Well thanks anyway! Not tried the new PC 10 but had a bottle of the PC HP a while back and thought it was excellent - thanks! The new 10 is definitely on my radar - I'm yet to try a 'bad' PC.

Want me to put some of the Cotswolds in a bottle for you?

@Nock not Adam actually so not the distiller but a lady I see now. Brand Ambo I suppose in fact. Not as fancy, right?

@RikS to be honest I opened the bottle of PC10 at about 11pm on Saturday. I'd had a couple of healthy drams of Craigellachie and was gonna call it quits at that but then decided to stay up and watch 'match of the day' and crack the seal on the Port Charlotte. So I wasn't in the best objective state to critique it (I also vaguely recall leaving an annoyed message on Balblair's Facebook page about their sudden price increase ).

From what I can remember of the PC10 @Nock has described it quite well more citrusy peat than farmhouse. If you'd have given me a glass in a blind tasting I'd have sworn it was Ardbeg 10.

@RianC I've bottled a sample of the PC10 for you. I'm not far off having enough for another package, got 4 bottles now and the Glen Scotia 15 to open when I go to my sisters at the end of April. Yes I've not had any Cotswolds so I'd love to try a sample of that!

@Wierdo that's not very inspiring. I do like ardbeg 10. Quite a bit. But, if that's all there's to pc10, well... I have plenty ardbeg 10. I look forward to have a chance to test the PC lineup. I did try the mrc:01 and found it pretty great at the time (which was after a long day of dramming and spitting about 30+ expressions though....)

I heard about this a few weeks ago as well. If this makes it over stateside, I will be ALL OVER it. Springbank and Benromach are my two favorite distilleries. I still have yet to try the 15yo for the same exact reason as why Nock hasn't bought a bottle yet. I have no idea why they don't at least bottle it, and the 10yo, at at least 46%abv. The 10yo is my everyday dram though since I can buy it for $40-$45 at certain spots around here. It's probably my favorite 10yo and works out to be the cheapest as well. The 10/100 is one of my all-time favs. So, Benromach has this sherry/peat bottling as well as a cask strength being released at the same time. Patience was never my virtue...

@RikS I don't as a rule drink on a week day night. But I just had a (very small) dram of the PC10 to confirm my taste from Saturday night and I'd advise you to ignore me. I was half cut when I tasted it on Saturday and after a retaste today I'd say although it does has elements of the Ardbeg 10 if you did a side by side ot would be noticeably different. The PC10 has a drying, slightly white wine note and has a bit of salt too. It's a bit like a cross between Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 12.

@Wierdo thank you ! Tomorrow I’ll have an opportunity to try a few of the Bruichladdich ones so it’ll be interesting to see if I can find those notes too. Keep you posted my friend.

The PC10 also leaves a very strong note of seaweed on my palate all night long.