The Whiskyphiles

Benromach

Benromach Distillery Exterior

  • Founded: 1898
  • Status: Operational
  • Region: Speyside, Scotland – Forres, Morayshire IV36 3EB +44(0)1309 675968
  • Online: https://www.benromach.com/
Benromach 10yo

History Duncan MacCallum and F.W. Brickmann founded the Benromach Distillery Company in 1898. Duncan MacCallum had previously been working at the Glen Nevis Distillery in Campbeltown and FW Brickmann was a spirit broker in Leith, Edinburgh. Construction work started at the site of Benromach Distillery in 1898 however due to the depression in the Scotch Whisky industry in 1898 the distillery did not start producing whisky until 1900 but closed the same year due to a lack of money. In 1911 Benromach was acquired by the London based Harvey McNair & Co who continued distilling until the onset of the First World War. After the war Benromach was acquired by Benromach Distillery Ltd and was run by this new private company until 1925. In 1938 Benromach was acquired by Associated Scottish Distilleries Ltd which later became a part of Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. Between 1966 and 1974 the distillery was modernised and continued to run until 1983 when the distillery was officially closed. In 1993 Gordon and MacPhail took over the site and in 1997 they started to restore the distillery to a working order. The design of the distillery was changed slightly to allow it to be operated by one man. Finally in 1998 the distillery was officially reopened by Charles, Prince of Wales and bottling of the new malt started in 2004.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Benromach 5 Years Old 2000 Sassicaia Wood Finish (2015) – Benromach 5 Years Old 2006 Sassicaia Wood Finish (45%, OB, 3000 Bottles, 2006) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 45% ABV Score: 83/100 What they say: Benromach Sassicaia wood finish 1st edition Matured for over 5 years, this spent 27 months maturing in Sassicaia Casks prior to bottling in August 2006. Limited to 3,000 bottles Official […]
  • Benromach 6 Years Old 2002 Monastrell Wood Finish (2015) – Benromach 6 Years Old 2002 Monastrell Wood Finish (45%, OB, 920 Bottles, 2008) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 45% ABV Score: 84/100 What they say: Distilled at Benromach distillery in 2002 and aged for 5 years before finishing for 12 months in an ex-Monastrell wine cask before bottling in November 2008. Limited edition of 920 […]
  • BenromachPSmoke53ppm-1 Benromach 7 Years Old 2000 Peat Smoke Batch #1 (2015) – Benromach 7 Years Old 2000 Peat Smoke Batch #1 (46%, OB, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, 2007) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 46% ABV, £30-40 for 70cl when available Score: 88/100 What they say: Distilled in 2000 at the Benromach distillery from peated barley and matured in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks for 7 years before bottling […]
  • benromach-organic-2011-bottled-2019-whisky Benromach 8 Years Old 2011 Organic (2020) – Very sweet and dessert-led, there is a malty backbone here which props up a lot of fruit and sweetness. Only the reveal gave away this weeks ‘theme’ of Organic. 83/100
  • Benromach Hermitage Wood Finish Benromach 9 Years Old 2001 Hermitage Wood Finish (2013) – Benromach 9 Years Old 2001 Hermitage Wood Finish (45%, OB, 1300 bottles, 2010) 45% ABV, £33.99 Score: 90/100 What they say: Our distillery – Speyside’s smallest – is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres, in north-east Scotland.  Just two experienced distillers passionately hand-craft Benromach using the finest Scottish barley and […]
  • Benromach 9 Years Old 2005 Peat Smoke (2015) – Benromach 9 Years Old 2005 Peat Smoke (46%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 46% ABV, £36.50 Score: 85/100 What they say: Pour yourself a dram of this seriously smoky single malt whisky… we only produce very small batches of this unique Benromach Speyside whisky, so you’re one of the few people who are […]
  • Benromach 10 Benromach 10 Years Old (2014) – Benromach 10 Years Old (43%, OB, 2014) 43% ABV, £33.95 What they say: Pour yourself a dram of Benromach – not too wee and not too big. Swirl the golden liquid around your glass and notice the aroma without water. In other words, take a sniff. Indeed, indulging in several little inhalations is the best […]
  • benromach-10-year-old-whisky Benromach 10 Years Old (2019) – Benromach 10 Years Old Whisky Review: A lovely cereal and fruit packed dram delivered with just a wisp of smoke. Still an impressive little whisky for an entry-level expression. 84/100
  • benromach-10-year-old-r2020 Benromach 10 Years Old (2020) – Benromach’s entry level malt is still a complex and fascinating dram full of malty barley, fruity spirit and sweet & spiced cask derived flavours. Superb, possibly one of the best 10 year old standard expressions available. 84/100
  • Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof (2015) – 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 […]
  • Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof (2019) – Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof whisky review: A much richer and darker fruit and chocolate filled experience when presented at this strength, much more malty feeling too though this is probably a mixture of a concentration effect of the flavours found in the reduced version and higher ABV. 85/100
  • Benromach 10 Years Old 2003 Origins Batch 4 (2015) – 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 […]
  • Benromach 12 Years Old 2000 Port Wood Finish (2015) – Benromach 12 Years Old 2000 Port Wood Finish (45%, OB, 2012) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 45% ABV Score: 83/100 What they say: Distilled in 2000, this Benromach from Gordon and MacPhail was finished in port pipes from the Douro Valley for the final 8 years of its maturation. Nose: Rich, sweet, spicy nose with […]
  • Benromach-15-year-old Benromach 15 Years Old (2015) – Benromach 15 Years Old (43%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 43% ABV, £49.95 for 70cl What they say: A notable new addition to the Benromach stable of classic Speyside single malt whiskies has gone on sale. Benromach 15 Years Old has a distinctive golden amber colour thanks to long maturation in sherry and […]
  • benromach-15-year-old-whisky Benromach 15 Years Old (2019) – Benromach 15 Years Old Whisky Review: A wonderfully complex dram with zesty fruits, chocolate and sherry influences, the added maturation adds a little more oak wood influence and spice over the 10 year old and 100° Proof expressions. A great price for a characterful 15 Year Old Speyside whisky. 88/100
  • Benromach 21 Years Old Tokaji Wood Finish (2015) – Benromach 21 Years Old Tokaji Wood Finish (45%, OB, 2000 Bottles, 2004) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 45% ABV Score: 84/100 What they say: Finished in ex-Tokaji (a Hungarian sweet wine) casks for six months, a well-aged version from this fine distillery. Bottled at 45% Undiluted Nose: Sweet bruised apples, fermented fruits – ripe bananas […]
  • benromach-35-year-old-whisky Benromach 35 Years Old (2016) – This expression is still surprisingly fresh considering its age. There is a depth of wood and fruit here belying its long time in a first fill sherry cask yet the orange oil tastes like it is fresh out of the zest! This is an old whisky that benefits time spent with it as it is smooth and subtle initially but reveals hidden depths. Far too drinkable for a whisky of this age! More please!! 91/100
  • Benromach 42 Year Old 1973 Heritage Single Cask (2017) – Benromach 42 Year Old 1973 Heritage Single Cask (48.9%, OB, Refill HH #4606, 52 Bottles, 2016) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Benromach Distillery Bottling: Gordon & Macphail ABV: 48.9% Cost: £1395 What they say: UK EXCLUSIVE SINGLE CASK BENROMACH HERITAGE 1973 LAUNCHED The Benromach Distillery Company Ltd has added an incredibly rare single […]
  • Benromach Contrasts Peat Smoke (2021) – A delicious experience of dry and sweet from the combination of peated malt and sherry casks. Still quite a lot of minerality and salinity which had me viewing this as not your ‘usual’ Benromach. 85/100
Independent Bottling
Cadenhead
  • benromach-38yo-cadenheads Benromach 38 Years Old 1976 single cask (2016) – Benromach-Glenlivet 38 Years Old 1976 Single Cask (52.9%, WM Cadenhead, Bourbon HH, 222 Bottles, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Benromach Distillery Bottling: Cadenhead’s ABV: 52.9% Cost: £205 What they say: Distilled at Benromach Distillery in 1976 and matured for a full 38 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before bottling in 2015. Produced 222 […]