BenRiach Adds Cask Strength Peated Scotch to its Line Up

About a year ago, Scotland’s BenRiach distillery  debuted a new cask strength, non-age statement version of its single malt. This release was well received by the industry, garnering a silver award at the 2016 IWSC competition. They are now back with another cask strength offering, this time focused on a peated counterpart clocking in at 56% ABV, or 112 proof.

The new BenRiach Peated Cask Strength, according to the distillery, is another non-age statement expression which is both of natural color and non-chill filtered. It was matured in a combination of ex-Oloroso sherry casks and bourbon barrels, and the first batch of it is set to price around £62, or close to $80 USD. You’ll find official tasting notes for it below at the end of this article.

“Our new Peated Cask Strength Batch 1 is an exciting first for the distillery,” said Stewart Buchanan, Global Brand Ambassador for The BenRiach Distillery Co, in a prepared statement. “Made with heavily peated malted barley to produce a unique, smoky expression, it also captures the Speyside character of BenRiach. Luscious and smooth, the peat is beautifully balanced with our delicious Speyside notes, and this whisky is a wonderful addition to any malt collectors’ portfolio.”

Color – Bright summer gold.

Nose – Butterscotch drizzled over campfire-roasted apples, combined perfectly with crisp white pepper. A gentle, earthy oak character adds to the subtly peated back note.

Appearance – A warm, toasted oak sweetness, combines with toffee apples and ripe nectarines. A sweet heather smoke slowly builds, leaving a lingering peat note, alongside Scottish tablet and rich stewed barley.