A 2010 single cask Benromach selected by The Whisky Exchange. It is a first-fill bourbon barrel, so we’re expecting to get the old-style, lightly peated Benromach spirit in its purest form.
Benromach 10 yo 2010 (58,4%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2021, first-fill bourbon barrel #390, 211 btl.)
Nose: a mix of roasted aromas and sweetness. Cut apples, slightly burnt pastry crust, leafy notes and some ashy notes. Vanilla cake with icing. Dried grass, a little menthol and light chalky notes. Some pineapple in the background. There’s a bit of a white pepper kick, but overall it’s more accessible than similar casks I’ve tried before, especially with a drop of water.
Mouth: sweet and spicy arrival. An oily texture, showing ginger and pepper, liquorice wood, medicinal hints of herbs (gentian), menthol and plenty of smoke, more than expected. Hardly any fruits now. A mustardy sharpness, with a pinch of salt, charcoal and hints of olive brine.
Finish: long, with green apple, a lemon and salt combo, minerals and oak spice.
A fairly rounded nose but considerably more punch on the palate, showing more oak spice and this medicinal, mustardy, smoky profile. A good one, quite pure indeed. Only available from The Whisky Exchange.