For a company like Asta Morris, bottling both whisky and rum has its advantages: this BenRiach 2008 was maturing in an ex-bourbon barrel but was transferred into a Foursquare rum cask, also an Asta Morris release, from last year.
BenRiach 10 yo 2008 (52%, Asta Morris 2018, Foursquare rum finish, 289 btl.)
Nose: candied fruits at first (oranges, peaches in syrup), with honey and vanilla. Stewed pears. As you dig deeper you’ll find drier notes. Light oak and the slightly industrial rummy side, as well as a leafy note.
Mouth: fairly thick and sweet again. Honey, mango coulis and raisins, moving towards caramel but also peppery oak and a touch of plain alcohol.
Finish: quite long, perhaps closer to rum altogether now. Nuts and a leafy note again.
With a RRP of under € 70 this is a really interesting rumsky. I couldn’t help thinking that the whisky underneath was not necessarily exceptional, so this was an ingenious, educational intervention. Still a few bottles available.
Score: 83/100