This is the new BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks, launched in June 2016, an expression distilled from peated malted barley and matured in tiny quarter casks.
These smaller casks (1/4th of a butt, around half a hogshead) encourage greater interaction between the spirit and the oak. Younger whisky, quicker maturation – a concept that has been used by Laphroaig for many years now.
BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks
(46%, OB 2016)
Nose: a slightly dry peatiness with lots of hay and ashy herbs rather than the medicinal Islay peat. A little gravel. Cereal notes. Underneath we find peaches and pears. A little cinnamon. Fine, simple, youngish but not immature.
Mouth: relatively mellow and light. There’s sweet peat, sweet lemon and pear, as well as some earthy / sooty notes and Provence herbs. Also hints of nectarine.
Finish: not too long, on sweet cereals, coffee and ashes.
Youngish fruits and dry, modest peat. Modern, which means it comes without flaws but it’s lacking a clear-cut identity. Perhaps too expensive for what it is: around € 60-75 depending where you look.
Score: 82/100