Review by: dustbunna

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Distillery: Benromach.

Bottler: Distillery bottling.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 56.2%.

Age: 11 years. Distilled in 2010. Bottled in 2021.

Cask type: First-fill ex-bourbon barrel.

Price: $90 USD for 700mL.

Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

Bottle open across approx. 6 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder, regular-formatted notes taken further into the bottle past the halfway point, italicized notes taken towards the heel.

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Nose: quiet at first ~ toffee, grass, light pipe smoke, green grapes, vanilla, tobacco, elderflower.

Palate: full-bodied and bright ~ excellent-quality vanilla bean mousse, flashes of pipe smoke, an herbal underlay, pipe smoke expands, floral notes begin to pop out.

Finish: medium-long ~ straight follow-through from the palate with more vanilla bean, herbs, pipe smoke, pepper, grass, flowers, a hint of menthol. 

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Conclusion: Fantastic whisky. At first it was very quiet and unassuming, but over time it’s really opened up beautifully. First-fill ex-bourbon often offers strong vanilla notes, but in my experience there is a difference between the cask offering cheap vanillin by the spoonful and vanilla bean notes more reminiscent of high-quality desserts. I have always been a sucker for the latter, which this Benromach has in spades. The pipe smoke and herbal notes make an excellent frame for that creamy vanilla bean center. This is one I’d buy again, and already did so.

Final Score: 89.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.