After the Benromach unpeated earlier in 2024, right here’s one which was launched early January 2025. It places the highlight on unpeated excessive enzyme barley.
This kind of barley sometimes serves grain whisky manufacturing or industrial brewing. Particular processing results in a better focus of enzymes, primarily amylases which break down starch into sugars.
Maturation happened solely in first fill bourbon casks. This bothers me in regards to the Contrasts vary typically. It’s purported to be an experiment with one unusual ingredient, however then additionally they change different traits. This whisky takes out the same old peat smoke and the same old sherry affect as properly, making it more durable to pinpoint the particular impact of the enzymes.
Benromach Contrasts: Excessive Enzyme 2012 (46%, OB 2024, first-fill bourbon barrels)
Nostril: it’s obtained a candy-like candy layer (pear drops, inexperienced apple and marshmallow) with a very good dose of vanilla and a barely artificial lemon and berry word. This overshadows the everyday mineral notes that Benromach often shows. Then some candied ginger, recent oak shavings and easily a lot of impartial (youngish) grainy notes. Possibly a nod in the direction of grain whisky certainly. It’s unpeated however the inexperienced and woody edge jogs my memory of some Nordic whiskies too.
Mouth: fairly a peppery onset, with some natural notes and peppermint. The feel appears lighter and fewer oily than the common Benromach. Slightly wood-forward now, I’d say. Hints of apple sweetness and marzipan, together with gentle metallic word and a whiff of oak char. Then hints of grapefruit and wooden bitterness come out, with the recent oak shavings getting more and more louder.
End: medium size, extra drying wooden with spicy notes and lightweight lemon.
In a blind tasting we’d most likely have thought this was a wooden experiment relatively than a malt experiment. The feel is completely different and there’s a uncooked grainy word that makes it lighter than anticipated, barely breakfast-like. The lightness additionally leaves extra room for the woody notes, making it barely incoherent general. Good to see they preserve developing with recent concepts for experimentation, however I’m afraid I’d place it among the many much less profitable outcomes. Nonetheless on its technique to most markets, however already listed within the Benromach webshop.
