After the big Success of their sister distillery Cask Strength Glendronach, It was time for the Benriach to release a CS expressions of their own, right? So they did, last year and I quite liked it.. [It’s good I have the blog to remind me what i thought about whiskies, I tend to forget..] Following that success (or so they claim) they have released a peated expression, bottled at a hefty 56% abv, and does not carry an age statement, as can be expected.
Nose: black pepper, a touch of smoky Mezcal, Apple peel and a touch of sweet butterscotch, more fruit and an earthy peat attack followed by toasted oak.
Palate : creamy and sweet with a touch of caramelized apples, lovely toasted oak, ash, white pepper and bursts of earthy peat alongside sweet pastries.
Finish : dry, smoke, pepper and earthy peat with a nice sweet touch.
Bottom line:
That’s a lovely dram if i might say, Although I did not expect it to be as sweet (I guess I expected a peatier dram and not as much fruitiness), which is a nice surprise , at least for me.
In the same league or so as the un-peated, showing some similar notes, but with the peaty veil which some would love , I bet.