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.
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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.
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This is one of the best single malts I have tasted for some time
For me, this was not a very good peated whisky. I like the rich and oily Islay distilleries. Highland Park does a nice sweet whisky with peat with their 12. Benromach 10 is a decent Speyside peated. But this one is far too light in flavour for me. Sure there is smoke, but the underlying whisky is a very light dram. If you enjoy Balvenie 14 Peat Week, this might be a good dram for you at far less cost. But if you love Laphroaig 10, I'd suggest this might not be your cup of tea.
Licorice, heather, oak and subtle hints of vanille and honey topped of with a royal dose of peat smoke that when compared to Islays is probably most reminiscent of Ardbeg smoke. Trumps many Islay whiskies in my opinion. The only pretty big downside is that I would have liked the finish to last a bit longer. Do decide for yourself though because any self-respecting peat lover has to have tried this unique Benriach expression at least once.
Got to say this is my favorite whisky so far. Bought a new bottle and found that the statement of "Non-Chill Filtered Natural Color" has disappeared on the box. Mail to the distillery and confirm that it was no mistake and the act is to "streamline the packaging". Although the ABV is still 46%, there are chances now the Curiositas will be chill filtered and added color. Beware if you have a bad dram with new bottles.
I like peaty Islay malts. I like the sweet and spicy regular BenRiach 10. But adding peat to the BenRiach - I don't like it at all. It doesn't seem integrated - just added on. Unfortunately, I think it has confused my local booze merchant, who will get this but not the regular BenRiach 10.
