Regular visitors to The Good Wine Shop may well have already come across the whiskies of the Benromach distillery, they have been a staple of our lovingly curated range of lesser-known but fantastic quality malts for quite some time now.
A venerable site founded in 1898, Speyside distillery Benromach was closed for a time before being resurrected in 1993 by the Urquhart family of Elgin. At this time it was completely refitted, but in a fashion that rejects high technology and harks back to a simpler time.
Everything at Benromach is an art, not a science – there are no computers or even pressure gauges to monitor the process – the distillers make all the decisions using their experience and their senses to taste the product. Although we now think of the Speyside style as being unpeated, it was very common in the region back in the 19th Century to use some peat to stoke the fires that malted the barley. Hence the Benromach style has a light touch of peat smoke to create a wonderfully well-rounded single malt.
The classic Benromach 10 year old is the quintessential malt from this distillery, matured in 80% Bourbon barrels and 20% Sherry hogsheads, with the final year in first-fill Oloroso casks, but for a twist try the Benromach Contrasts finished for 25 months in barrels from Bordeaux estate Chateau Cissac. Also, look out for the Organic, 15 year old, and brand new Peat Smoke Sherry Cask malts arriving soon.
We’re excited to be hosting a fantastic tasting with Benromach at the Kew shop on the 3rd of April from 7pm where guests will taste their way through the Benromach 10 year old, Sassicaia Cask finish, Organic, 15 year old, and brand new Peat Smoke Sherry Cask malts. A selection of nibbles to match the whiskies will be served on the night. Click here to get your tickets.