Benriach Birnie Moss Intensely Peated Whisky

Peat smoke can be used to hide a multitude of sins in the distillation and maturation process of a whisky and I think that's what Benriach had in mind here. If I was to hazard a guess, they decided to get rid of their worst casks by blending them off with intensely peated spirit. They almost succeeded. Under the thick bonfire smoke, the rough spirit is barely tamed, threatening to push through and assert itself. If it wasn't for the peat, this whisky would be undrinkable as the harsh, metallic notes of a poorly distilled and matured spirit would dominate. As it is, I am still struggling to get through the bottle.

You might get hardened Islay fans going 'Pshaw! Nonsense' when they see 'Intensely Peated' on a whisky that doesn't hail from that blessed isle. I will admit that I have been lured in by alternate offerings promising an abundance of smoke, and I have been disappointed - but not this time - not this day. Birnie Moss offers plenty of smoke, and to my senses, the right kind of smoke. I remember my first Islay very well, though it was many years ago. It was a shock, it was like drinking a kipper, it was salt and real smoke. Since then, in my estimation, the Islay peat monsters have tended to lean more towards the Port Ellen medicinal gauze in taste and nose. Great drams they still are, but... but... I digress. Benriach Birnie Moss - plenty of smoke and for me the best kind of smoke - smokey smoke. Dr Rachel Barrie has struck this one out of the park. There is genuine fruit and sweetness, but Oh THAT SMOKE. There's a longer finish than you might expect for a NAS dram. However, I've long thought that long maturation is a bit over rated. If it was good enough you'd surely have it out there instead of hoping that a time might tame it? No? This is a belter. Splash of water wakens it up (splash of warm water really lets it loose). I'm ordering another.

I am thoroughly enjoying this. Fruity and peaty. Incredible value for money.

Great value for money. Not for the faint hearted with its peatiness and intensity. Lingering finish. Highly recommended

Lovely heavily plated malt which is brilliant.

Absolutely gorgeous on both taste and nose.

Well well well. This really is a no-bullshit dram. As is much BenRiach, but this is an especially honest thing: “Hey there. I’m a young, strong, peaty bugger”. Oh yes You are. And easy too.

In the nose: Freshness, a bit of citrus, oak, and sweet peaty smoke.
Add a spit of water to bring forth some fruitiness. The abv can take it.

On the palate: First fresh and crisp tickles from the abv. It appears somewhat coastal with some saline influence - then the sweet, ashy smoke. With a wee bit of water the iodine become much less dominant and the smoke appears less ashy, but sweeter - almost fruity.

Finish: long and lovely with plenty of smoke lingering along with some oaky spiciness.

This is good bang for the buck.

Someone mentioned Kilchoman in comparison. I’d like to match this against a vatted whisky: The Six Isles, which shares some of its attributes with this one in regards of youth, smoke and coastal character. The Six being fatter and less crisp, equally priced and both very interesting.

Intense smoke. Not Ardbeg-smoky, but very close. Quite sweet. And that is the thing for me. Just right amount of sweetness with intense smoke on nose and palate. Perfect!

For those who love peat. From my most recent tastings it reminds me of Kilchoman Machir Bay. Youngish, not very round or oily or sweet, short finish. Surely it is worth the price.

Young, lots of peat. Sweet and smokey. I like the amrut peated single malt better. Old ballantruan peated malt is also a better one imo. These two have more character besides the peat. I like using this whisky to show people what peat tastes like when they ask me that :)