The Benromach distillery, set in Scotland’s Speyside region, was founded way back in 1898. It continued operation in one form or another through 1983, when it was mothballed before ultimately being taken over by Gordon and MacPhail and reopened in 1998.
There’s likely not much whisky still around from before it was shuttered, but its current owners managed to draw from enough old casks to bottle the just-released Benromach 35 Year Old.
Benromach 35 Year Old, according to the distillery, was laid down back in the early 1980s, just before operations ceased there. Specifically, it was created
under the watchful eye of Donald MacDonald, former distillery manager, the casks this whisky was matured in have long been a part of the Benromach history. Willie McArthur, former malt man and warehouseman, was one of the workers responsible for protecting the precious casks remaining in the bonded warehouses.
“Benromach 35 Years Old is a very special whisky for everyone at the distillery,” said current Benromach Distillery Manager Keith Cruickshank in a statement, “as very few casks of Benromach remain from this time period.”
Benromach is presenting this golden amber colored Scotch, which was aged in first-fill sherry casks, in a special bespoke decanter style bottle. This container in turn is nestled into “a wooden presentation box, reflecting the various elements which have gone into making the whisky; the copper stills, the dark, grained wood of the original washbacks, and the white of the limewashed distillery walls.”
Official tasting notes for Benromach 35 Year Old, bottled at 43% ABV, are below for your consideration. As for pricing, it is currently available for £425 (around $620 USD, though this may vary later in international markets due to duty and import taxes.)
Aroma without water: Rich sherry influences with orange marmalade, kiwi and grapefruit aromas, complemented by gorgeous cinnamon spice
Taste without water: Initially, it is sweet on the palate with honey, fruitcake, ripe banana and melon flavours. Watch out for the smooth white chocolate edge as it develops, combined with a soft menthol note, giving a full body and long and smooth fruity finish
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Aroma with water: Sherry influences with honey, blackcurrant and beeswax polish aromas, complemented by a subtle hint of cloves
Taste with water: A fabulous combination of white pepper followed by dried tobacco, dewy stewed pear, raisin and zesty orange peel flavours, heightened by a delicate edge of charred oak… the result of lingering for over three decades in oak casks.
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