2007 Benromach 11 Year Old "Batch 1" Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Whisky

Staff Reviews

JM

John Majeski

John Majeski

Gordon & MacPhail acquired this venerable distillery in 1992, a concern that had remained dormant during several intervals since its founding in 1898. Crafting a Speyside whisky somewhat distinct from previous incarnations involved designing a new wash still that concentrated the flavors into a weightier, fuller bodied profile. Finished in sherry and bourbon casks at cask strength, Batch 1 delivers notes of thistle honey, medium peat, toasted cereals, graham cracker crust and lemon zest, with a lingering whiff of smoke and spice. Such generous appeal makes this price a steal!

AH

Aaron Hughes

Aaron Hughes

Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect, Andrew said that this was going to stunning and he wasn't wrong in the least, this is absolutely going home with me, possibly by the case at this price. Opening with a generous nose that isn't overwhelmed by smoke, there's layers upon layers with honey and both fresh and dried fruits that intermingle with the peat and urge you to take that first sip. Instantly you're rewarded with a rich palate that balances a fine line, being very fruit-driven while the whispers of peat and spice constantly bring you back; the fruit is less ripe than on the nose, but no less welcome with orchard and stone fruit mingling with hints of citrus. The finish is long and gentle, and despite being bottle at cask strength, I didn't find this too hot while neat - thought adding a few drops of water really brought out a lot more nuance. In my opinion, this is absolutely the best deal we have in peated Scotch at the moment, and anyone who passes it up probably will end up kicking themselves... meanwhile those who stock up will be rewarded with the perfect dram time and time again.

Notes

This is officially the best deal in Single Malt Scotch we've ever seen. While every other product is going up in price, this exceptional offering from one of Speyside's highest quality and most traditional distillers is 50% off. The only problem with this exceptional deal is that it makes every other product in our store look absolutely outrageous. Of course, this isn't an indication of a new pricing strategy by our friends at BenRomach, just the lucky result of some oddities caused by ever changing distribution networks. We'll take it! The cask strength offering is the first cask strength batch from the much lauded distiller. This outrageously delicious malt sold exceptionally well when it was $80 and it was a staple of our shelves for several years. Now we plan to be selling this for as long as we possible can, but knowing our customers they'll be buying this by the case. Distilled entirely in 2007 and filled into first fill ex-bourbon and sherry, it's bottled at cask strength without chillfiltration. This is hardcore, old-school malt and it loves some water and air, but few products will offer the same drinking experience for the price. Once this is gone it is gone forever. The other cask strength batches in this packaging did not make it to the US and we don't expect to see the "NEW" batch 1 for sometime still. Again, do add a few drops or more of water for the full experience.