Among the recent exclusives from The Whisky Exchange there is this Benromach 2014. It comes from a single sherry hogshead. Expect some deep sherry notes with the typical mild sootiness of the distillery.
Benromach 11 yo 2014 (59,1%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2025, first-fill sherry hogshead #675, 299 btl.)
Nose: woodfire smoke with forest honey, some mulching leaves and a big hint of treacle sweetness. Also a certain sourness and a hint of alcoholic brandy. Unlit matchstick heads. Then I’m picking up worn leather and tobacco leaves, along with some smoked meat and walnuts. Light coffee beans and roasted chestnuts in the background.
Mouth: fairly hot, with dark savoury notes of liquorice, burnt cake and black peppercorns. Also coal stoves, a little ginger, marinated meat and a little bit of Laphroaig’s TCP. The sherry is somewhat dirty and the strength somewhat numbing. Then pipe tobacco and more leather, with fudge and brighter flashes of orange peel.
Finish: long, quite spicy, with drying smoke, hints of chocolate and freshly sawn oak.
Overall a very savoury Benromach with lots of robust notes, roasted hints and a slightly dirty edge. In the same ballpark as the German and Dutch sister casks I’ve had before. Exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange.