Description

Benromach Contrasts Air Dried 2012 Virgin Oak Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml The Benromach Contrasts Air Dried 2012 Virgin Oak Cask is a single malt whisky crafted to showcase the impact of unique cask maturation. Distilled in 2012, this expression has been exclusively aged in virgin oak casks made from air-dried oak, giving it a distinctively rich and spicy character. Produced in the Benromach Distillery in Speyside, this limited edition whisky exemplifies traditional handcraftsmanship, combined with a focus on the purity of natural ingredients and bold wood influence.

• Brand: Benromach
• Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Volume: 700ml
• ABV: 46%
• Distillation Year: 2012
• Cask Type: Virgin Oak Casks (Air-Dried Oak)

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Aromatic and warm, with notes of toasted oak, vanilla, and hints of green apple.
• Palate: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of sweet spice, caramel, and fresh oak, balanced by a subtle fruitiness.
• Finish: Long, smooth, and complex, with lingering notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and oak tannins.

Key Features:

• Limited Edition Release: Unique 2012 vintage aged in air-dried virgin oak for added depth and complexity.
• Traditional Distilling: Crafted in small batches with Benromach’s traditional hands-on approach.
• Natural Ingredients: Made with the purest Scottish water and barley, with no added color.

Other reviews... The idea is to showcase different methods of drying the oak before making barrels, and their organoleptic effects. In this specific case, the planks were air-dried for 36 months, which seems to be the most traditional method in coopering for whisky. Naturally, this is first-fill 'virgin' oak. Colour: gold. Nose: well, you do feel the oak, its spices, especially curry powders, cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, as well as a lot of pencil shavings. All this is certainly pretty different, but very pleasant too, while it seems to me that they've used some gentler distillate. Then we find the usual softer custard and caramel cream, crème brûlée and so on. Mouth: great fun, this is totally oak-driven, but the sweet spiciness is working extremely well. Bananas stewed in cinnamon sauce, with more nutmeg and curry. In other words, bananas flambéed in India (ha!) Finish: medium, all on sweet spices and some cedarwood that gives it a mentholy and piney profile in the end. Comments: not sure whether this was full maturing or matured in virgin oak for three years or a little more, but I'm rather fond of the results, even if they remain a tad 'too modern' for this traditionalist (*). 83 points - whiskyfun.com