It has been a while, but I got this sample from Michiel Wigman‘s stand at Spirits in the Sky 2023. Always a joy to go through his archive of old bottles. He suggested this Benromach 1968 to me, an old bottling from Hart Brothers.
Benromach 27 yo 1968 (43%, Hart Brothers 1995, Port Wood)
Nose: sherry from the old days. Pipe tobacco, leather bound books, with nice eucalyptus and dried herbs. Then also a red fruit theme: raspberry jam, hints of Oude Kriek and even a whiff of pomegranate juice. Later also mint tea, library dust and old sourish oak.
Mouth: decent intensity. There’s a very clear oaky layer, but never invasive. Eucalyptus and mint with this thin and elegant hint of pipe tobacco, leather and herbal tea. Some forest fruit sweetness and dark chocolat in the background. Then hints of cold coffee, sour plum, nutmeg and saffron.
Finish: quite long, with a dry woodiness, herbal notes, black rye bread and a pinch of salt.
Nowadays I often write a 20-30 year old whisky tastes younger than it actually is. This on the other hand seems much older than just 27 years, in a nice way. The wood left a clear footprint but the amount of tobacco notes, herbal sherry and fruits make up for this. Still available from The Whisky Exchange, if you can’t resist.