Benromach Aged 40 Years

Tasting Notes

Producer Tasting Note

Aromas: Vibrant citrus aromas with ginger, stewed fruits & cinnamon and subtle dark fudge aromas. Rich beeswax polish notes develop with a touch of aged oak.

Palate: Intense Seville orange flavours give way to red apple with underlying spices. Demerara sugar and a soft herbal flavour lead to charred oak.

Finish: Medium-bodied, citrus zest and oak.

93pts Whisky Fun

"I couldn't spot any vintage statements on this brand new one, so it could be a multi-vintage expression, just like the superb 2019 edition that we tried earlier in August (WF 91). Now the 2019 was bourbon + sherry, whilst this new 2021 is full sherry. It's still 'Diageo' distillation as G&M bought the then silent Benromach Distillery in 1993 and restarted production in 1998. By the way Diageo kept bottling some Benromach after the sale, for example with a 1978/1998 Rare Malts which, by the way, I didn't like too much, but let's move on... Colour: bronze gold, so they weren't 'dark' sherry casks. Nose: starts with a little plasticine and whiffs of brand new electronics but gets then absolutely shock-full of dried fruits, including tropical ones. For example, our good friends the bananas. And then, it would move towards bouillons and Asian sauces, soy, teriyaki, sesame... Rather dazzling so far. With water: the plasticine is still there while all the rest is rather sublime and would remind me of some much older 'full sherry' bottles by another, perhaps a tad more famous Speyside distillery. A little wood and rubber smokes (much distant whiffs of burning tyres). Mouth (neat): these slightly sour touches at first (cherries, balsamic vinegar) that we've already encountered in older vintages, going towards leather, pepper and cigars, then lighter gravy and then marmalade and kumquats, with touches of coffee. Moves a lot, in all senses of that word (except senses that I wouldn't know of as a non-native, naturally). With water: rather different, that is to say more on aromatic and 'fruity herbs', which is just fantastic. Peach leaf syrup, yellow chartreuse (that's easier than quoting many herbs – a taster's trick), fir honey, earl grey, oriental pastries, mint and almonds… What's more the oak remains extremely civilised all along because while being there, it would never raise its voice. Finish: long, with more chocolate, coffee and marmalade, with a salty touch and another drop of bouillon, the old fashioned way. The plasticine is back in the aftertaste, which I find funny. There's quite some cracked pepper too. Comments: a longer tasting note says it all. SGP:562 - 93 points."