Curiositas is a 10 year old, peated release from the BenRiach distillery in what they call the 'classic Speyside style'. A distinct malt with great depth and a bittersweet balance.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Sweet grassy malt, succulent fudge and hints of smoke and heather lead. There's a touch of malmsey underneath with fragrant honey and mellow oak.
Caramelised sugar and strong cereal flavours form the core. Marshmallows, ripe stone fruit and a warm nuttiness develop while peppery spice tingles in the backdrop with green wood smoke.
Bittersweet with slight suggestions of dry oak, beeswax and fennel.
If you enjoy peated whiskies, this is something you should definitely try. The stuff is bottled at 46% (at least my bottle, the page here says it's 40% so maybe there are two versions), and an excellent price-to-quality ratio. I tend to buy Islay whiskies as my personal preference, but the bottle of BenRiach changed everything, I think it's my current favorite. The smell is peat mixed with orange peels, brings a nice burning sensation to the nose. It's warm, it's bitter-sweet and absolutely refreshing and energizing. The taste is what you would actually expect after that nose. Nothing surprises here, it's similar burning sensation to the nose one, sweet but sugar is not dominant, it's also bitter and smoky. Quite long finish, pleasant throughout the experience. Highly recommendned purchase
I have 34 bottles of whiskey in my drinks cabinet ( I know! you might think "what's the point in having so many?" but I do try & drink them all) and this one is my favorite
I'm a new fan of peated scotch (since a year or so). One of my favorite is Lagavulin 12 or Bowmore 12. This one is a bit too medicinal for me. However, with a few drops of water, it dissipate that taste and I really enjoy it. Number 3 of my top ten peated scotch.
see previous review
I bought a bottle of Curiositas yesterday 12_27_14 and its 46% If it was 40 I would'nt have bought it! Any way its one of the best bottles of the year! The price was $65.00 though.I like it over laphroaigh and ardbeg! I think a non peat drinker could like this. I like the subtle sweet nutty taste along with the smoke!
