Benromach shines with refill sherry, but a single bourbon barrel is often also very good. A few weeks ago we tried two single casks for Kirsch Import. Today we’re looking at a single cask Benromach 2012 exclusive to DeinWhisky.
Benromach 11 yo 2012 (58,5%, OB for DeinWhisky 2023, first-fill bourbon barrel #62, 234 btl.)
Nose: quite bright, with a malty onset, quickly joined with chalky notes, raw wool and a very light smoky touch. Some gentle white fruits (pear, unripe peach) along with mild vanilla. Then green leafy notes, olive oil, a little sawdust, maybe a hint of marzipan sweetness too. Just a hint of mud as well. Slightly closed and youngish, but unmistakenly Benromach.
Mouth: pure maltiness again, sourdough, chalk, a bit of seawater and aniseed. Grapefruit comes out, along with green peppercorns and lemon peels. A bit of paraffin as well. Grape seed oil, a bit of smoke again. Bitter almonds and herbs.
Finish: quite long, always mineral, slightly metallic, with a subtle smoky edge. Some ginger before it ends.
A slightly restrained cask, focusing firmly on the mineral and oily character. Very pure and exactly the style that Benromach is famous for, but complexity is limited and it’s perhaps not very hedonistic. The high quality of the regular 10 makes it sometimes a tad problematic for the single casks to offer the same sparkle. Available from DeinWhisky.