Review by: Raygun

Seeing more single cask releases from Benromach showing up now and then, and that’s a welcome development. This is a bourbon cask selected by and bottled for Binny’s. Binny’s picks and Benromach both rarely go wrong for me, so the combination ought to be good.  Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 10 minutes.

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Distillery: Benromach

Bottler: Benromach

Region/style: Speyside single malt Scotch

ABV: 56.2%. Cask strength. 

Age: 11 years. Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2021. 

Cask type: Ex-bourbon, #595. Doesn’t say here, but Benromach states they only use first-fill casks. 

Color: 0.6 old gold. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

Price: Currently on sale for $80

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Nose: A touch of peat is clear on the nose. Apple cider, pie crust, smoldering leaves. Definite bakery character. 

Palate: More peat than I usually pick up in Benromach. Apples, caramel, tamarind. Nice fall flavors. Some honey and Indian spices. Which is not something I’ve found in Benromach before. The sweet and tart flavors work well together. 

Finish: Snuffed candle, apple pie with honey, and a little bit of cola. Which is weird, but it works. Lingering puff of smoke. Good length.

Conclusion: Yup, it’s very good. Benromach still flies under the radar a bit, but I won’t complain about that. This is a great example of what good spirit in a simple bourbon cask can do. You get some peat, apples, sweetness, and spice. Transitions very well from one flavor to the next. 

Buy a bottle? $80 is not a bad deal at all.

Final Score: 81

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)