Benromach‘s innovative Contrasts series has a new member: a 12 Year Old single malt matured in first-fill bourbon casks before 26 months finishing in Côte-Rôtie wine casks. Wine casks are always popular, says the distillery team, but they’re generally not our favourites.
Côte-Rôtie brings us to the terraces of the Northern Rhône, just south of Lyon, where Syrah grapes are common, sometimes co-planted and co-fermented with a little white Viognier.
Benromach Contrasts: Wine Finish 12 yo 2014 (46%, OB 2026, Côte-Rôtie Cask finish)
Nose: not bad really. Lots of red berry aromas, some strawberry jam, blackberries and pomegrenate. Light peat sits underneath, along with black peppercorns and some sour herbal notes, hibiscus and orange peels. Then also rounder vanilla, a little caramel and cocoa. There’s a very light sangria-character to it, but not at all unpleasant.
Mouth: at first the peat stands out more, but the wine is louder as well. Dark forest fruits again, with damsons and blood oranges. Then ginger, toasted oak and the tangy character of mulled wine. Black pepper, angelica root, a little wood oil and cloves. Subtle leafy notes, highlighting the savoury side.
Finish: medium, a bit foxy / musky, with oak spice, especially clove, and some dark berries.
The balance is alright and the gentle peat is always a nice counterweight for a wine cask. But a red wine finish will never be my desert island dram and perhaps Côte-Rôtie is even more difficult than other to work with whisky. Mixed bag. Already available from Benromach or retailers like The Whisky Exchange for instance.