Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof

By Barry Bradford on January 17, 2015 • ( 1 Comment )

Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof (57%, OB, 2014)

Single malt scotch whisky
57% ABV,
£45 for 70cl
Score: 85/100

What they say:

Tasting Notes

Pour yourself a dram of this beautiful golden amber single malt whisky and take a few small inhalations to start to enjoy the aroma without water. It has an intense Sherry nose with heaps of stewed apple, pear and delightful vanilla pod aromas… delicious toasted malt aromas develop and complement an underlying menthol edge. Now take a sip and savour the taste without water… there’s cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry… hints of orange peel and milk chocolate combine with a delicate smoky edge. Add a smidge of water to release your dram of 100 ̊ Proof and enjoy the aroma with water… it’s fabulous, with initial hints of beeswax polish and peat smoke… followed by sweeter aromas developing with ripe banana and kiwi bound together by honey. Now for the taste with water. Roll it around your palate and enjoy the sweet and salty effect with ripe banana and blackcurrant flavours. Notice the emerging creamy milk chocolate edge with a long rich finish of lingering subtle smokiness and bonfire embers.

This whisky has been bottled without chillfiltering and as a result, a completely harmless sediment may form in the bottle. What’s more, when you add water the whisky may turn a little cloudy. It’s nothing to worry about at all. Slainte!

What I say:

Sadly I was unable to attend the final tasting of the Water Of Life Society in 2014 due to work commitments taking me to Brighton for the week. During this tasting the WOLS presented their fantabulous Awards and also partook of some fantastic drams, this being one of them.

We tasted the standard Benromach 10 Year old back in Water of Life Society Tasting 14/3 – Age is Just a number 02/10/2014 after they had rebranded their bottle/packaging, so it was interesting to compare this 57% ABV version to the standard 43% ABV

Colour:

Full amber gold with copper hints

Nose:

Earthy peat, sherry tannins, leather, fruity, dates, figs, raisins, apple, pear, hints of vanilla and barley malt

Taste:

Pepper spice initially, fruity, peach, raspberry, apple, raisins, toffee oak and a honey sweetness, milk chocolate, polished oak wood, pinch of salt and a little maltiness

Finish:

Medium, polished wood, beeswax, faint wisps of peat smoke round this off

Overall:

Looking back it appears I liked this one marginally better than the standard version, possibly as the extra alcohol strength (i.e. the fact it has been cut or watered down less) aids in carrying a little extra flavour and complexity. Unusually I found the 43% version a little oilier, spicier and more peat influenced, flavours possibly masked in this version by the extra alcohol and more fruity Sherry-influence on the palate and nose, whereas the waxy/polish oiliness comes out in the finish this time.