Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke - 2014/2024 - 9 y.o. - Bourbon Cask

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke is one of the distillery’s experimental releases and provides a heavily smoky counterpoint to its gently smoky house style. Benromach distilled the whisky in 2014 from malt peated to 57 ppm, whereas the malt used for the core range is around 10 to 12 ppm. The whisky matured for nine years exclusively in first-fill bourbon casks and was bottled in 2024 as a small-batch release at 46%. It has a natural colour and is not chill-filtered.

The contrast continues in its sensory profile: rich smoke and fragrant vanilla sit alongside bright citrus peel, apple and white chocolate. On the palate, toasted oak, honey and ripe sweet fruit give way to butterscotch, marshmallow, lemon sorbet and sweet smoke; the finish retains a mouth-filling sweetness and smouldering campfire ash.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, rich smoke combines with fragrant vanilla and bright citrus peel, followed by apple and white chocolate.
• Palate: The whisky is smooth on the palate, initially showing toasted oak, honey and ripe sweet fruit, followed by butterscotch, marshmallow, lemon sorbet and sweet smoke.
• Finish: The finish is mouth-filling and sweet, with lingering smoke and the warmth of smouldering campfire ash.

Distillery/Bottler:

Benromach distilled this whisky in Forres and bottled it as a distillery release in 2024. Between these stages, the whisky matured for nine years exclusively in first-fill bourbon casks. Built in 1898, the distillery was acquired by the family-owned Gordon & MacPhail in 1993, restored and reopened in 1998; the company still owns Benromach today. The whisky distilled in 2014 therefore comes from the distillery’s revived era. Through the Contrasts series, Benromach explores different production processes, malt-drying techniques and cask types beyond its gently smoky house style.

Facts: