Benromach Organic, 43%, $75
Huge oak impact for such a young whisky. Fresh oak shavings, dry vanilla, and subtle toasted coconut throughout. Some dried fruit, sultana and toffee too up front, but this is quickly consumed by the oak. Dry, hot, resinous finish. Not an old whisky, but already showing too much oak.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 74
Dear John,
I tasted this whisky yesterday at Federal Wine and Spirits in Boston. I’m given to understand that this Benromach was casked in virgin oak as part of the overall effort to produce a whisky that is as natural and environmentally sound as possible. So, perhaps the dry, hot finish is not so unexpected and deserves to be appreciated as part of the whole effort and the package it produced. Besides, a peppery finish can be pleasing now and then, and I don’t think this one is particularly overwhelming.
Best regards,
Kurt
Kurt,
Yes, I was told it was casked in virgin oak, and this undoubtably is the reason for the huge wood impact.
I admire the efforts of Benromach to put out an organic whisky. But the bottom line here is that, when I am rating a whisky, its cost, environmental ethics, etc., does not play into it. It comes down to taste, and there’s just too much oak in this whisky.
John