Benromach 10 Years Old 2003 Origins Batch 4 Port Pipes (50%, OB, 2013)

• Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• 50% ABV
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

Batch 4 of Benromach’s Origins range, bottled in 2013, is matured entirely in first fill Port pipes and peated to a level of 8ppm. The idea behind the range is to highlight how changing different factors during production results in different characteristics in the final spirit.

Nose: Bakewell tart, pear drops, anise and slightly smoky barley.

Palate: Fruit salad, cracked black pepper and characteristic smoked cheese.

Finish: Sweet with caramel and a little tropical oakiness.

Overall: A fruity and sweet take on this lightly peated Speyside single malt.

What I say:

Dram #4 at the WOLS Benromach Wood Finishes tasting hosted by Thomas McEntee was this Origins Batch 4 Port Pipes expression. Not a wood finish per se but an interesting contrast to the Port Wood finish sample earlier.

Colour:

Red copper gold (12/20) light tears

Nose:

Malty cereal barley, lactic new make, spirit and feinty, tannic leather, almonds/marzipan, estery pear drops sweeties, hints of peat smoke

Taste:

Malty cereal barley, jammy red fruits plum, strawberry, cherry, blackberry, vanilla, lactic

Finish:

Short, sweet, berry fruits and cream

Overall:

A definite improvement over some of the Wood Finishes which suffered very little injection of character. This one had a lot more going for it despite some obvious feisty and cheesey/lactic elements. The port influence carried a lot more weight and was much more incorporated into the nature of this whisky. Another Benromach Origins edition that we love!