A heavily peated whisky from the Benriach distillery. This is at higher than average strength and was distilled from peated malt at 35ppm. The result is at once smoky and very fruity.
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 :)
