Benromach 35 Years Old – 43% abv

Info: Distilled before Benromach was mothballed in 1983 (and then subsequently purchased and brought back into production by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998). Matured in first fill sherry casks.
Colour: Golden amber, autumnal.
Nose: Deep and fruity, jam packed with… jam. Refined old oak notes, sweet brown sugar which is balanced with fresh citrus notes – think kiwi, gentle honey, peach and orange peel going to marmalade.
Palate: Instant gratifying sweet malty goodness which becomes a bit cinnamon spicy after a while. The fruits are all there packed and ready, grapefruits, orange, kiwi, all adding a nice sweetness to things. It’s not overly oily on your palate, has it been a little filtered? Slight char puffs.
Finish: The finish dies down fairly quickly, but then sticks around for a long time with sherry caramel raisin sweetness. Not overpowered by oak tannins.
Thoughts: Lovely, gentle and balanced old sweetness. An absolutely fabulous old whisky. I would have preferred a thicker mouthfeel, especially for the price; 46%abv or above would be nice to see, but even so, gosh what a properly lovely whisky. It’s also a great looking bottle! A great bit of whisky history… if you can afford it (ouch).
Available: Master of Malt – £419.95

Thanks to Benromach for the sample.