Whisky Review # 1100 (There Is Smoke Without Fire)
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Speyside
Brand: BenRiach Smoke Season
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Double Cask Matured - 45 PPM
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 52.8%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Fire Toasted Virgin Oak
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and Fire Toasted Virgin Oak
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 55-65(July 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline Okay
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline Okay
Buying Advice: 👎 I like non-peated BenRiach but I prefer young Peated Islay
Colour:
Golden Amber with shades of Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
It takes a while for this BenRiach to open up. My first impressions are Dirty Smoke and Virgin Oak followed by Farm Yard and Burnt notes. It's quite clearly a Young Single Malt and the high ABV is noticeable. On the whole, the Nose is a bit on the shy side and not very remarkable. Virgin Oak is noticeable throughout the Tasting process.
Main Aromas:
Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Burnt Toast, slightly Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earth, Red Berries, Citrus Peel, Farmyard, Smoked Meat and Shellfish, Canned Fruit Cocktail on Syrup, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.
Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Burnt Toast, slightly Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earth, Red Berries, Citrus Peel, Farmyard, Smoked Meat and Shellfish, Canned Fruit Cocktail on Syrup, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Vanilla, Honey, Burnt Straw, Ashes, Iodine, Dried Herbs, Green Apple, Milk, Metal, Plastic, Wet Rocks and Sand, Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, Tobacco, Tea, Cinnamon, Cloves, Licorice, Roasted Coffee and some sort of Perfume I can't put my fingers on.
Vanilla, Honey, Burnt Straw, Ashes, Iodine, Dried Herbs, Green Apple, Milk, Metal, Plastic, Wet Rocks and Sand, Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, Tobacco, Tea, Cinnamon, Cloves, Licorice, Roasted Coffee and some sort of Perfume I can't put my fingers on.
Palate:
Young & Bitter-Sweet. A few Salty and Sour notes for balance. The Alcohol is quite strong and stings a bit. Still, I like it better than the Nose although I miss balance.
Main Flavours:
Young & Bitter-Sweet. A few Salty and Sour notes for balance. The Alcohol is quite strong and stings a bit. Still, I like it better than the Nose although I miss balance.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Burnt Straw, Citrus Peel, Green Apple, Grilled Pork Chops and Pineapple, Cooked Fruit, Tobacco, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Wax, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Tar, Grapefruit Juice, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Milk Chocolate, Toasted Nuts, Wet Sand, Plastic, Metal, Dried Apricot, Cloves, Espresso and Banana Ice Cream.
Finish:
Medium Long, Bitter-Sweet and on the Thin side. The Bitterness increases towards the rather Dry end. The Youth of this Spirit is clearly noticeable and there's a clear Alcohol kick I don't really enjoy. I find Malted Barley, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Wax, Vanilla, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Peat, Charred Oak, Ashes, Hospital, Toasted Nuts, Sour Citrus Fruit (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit), Apple Vinegar, Tobacco, Varnish, Plastic, Wet Sand, Metal, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger, Tar and some grilled Bananas towards the end.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water transforms this Single Malt in Weak & Alcoholic Barley Water. Better sip it neat!
Drinking Experience Neat:
Added Water transforms this Single Malt in Weak & Alcoholic Barley Water. Better sip it neat!
Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)
Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Okay
Conclusion:
BenRiach distillery was founded in the year 1897 by John Duff & Co and is located in Longmorn, Elgin (Morayshire). It changed hands a couple of times in its history but in April 2016 it was bought by Brown Forman. BenRiach will produce more or less 2.2 million litres in 2026. The core range includes a/o the Original 10, the Smoky 10, the 12, the Smoky 12, the 16, 21, 25, 30, 40 and 50 Years. I have not yet been able to visit this Distillery. We passed by in 2014 but it was closed for maintenance at the time. BenRiach Spirit is also used in Blends like Chivas Regal, 100 Pipers and Queen Anne.
BenRiach distillery was founded in the year 1897 by John Duff & Co and is located in Longmorn, Elgin (Morayshire). It changed hands a couple of times in its history but in April 2016 it was bought by Brown Forman. BenRiach will produce more or less 2.2 million litres in 2026. The core range includes a/o the Original 10, the Smoky 10, the 12, the Smoky 12, the 16, 21, 25, 30, 40 and 50 Years. I have not yet been able to visit this Distillery. We passed by in 2014 but it was closed for maintenance at the time. BenRiach Spirit is also used in Blends like Chivas Regal, 100 Pipers and Queen Anne.
I usually quite like BenRiach but this Smoke Season does not work for me. It's Young, Thin, Alcoholic & Un-balanced. The Smoke is Dirty and there are a number of light off-notes like Plastic and Metal. If you like Young Peated Malt better go to Islay. There is Smoke to be found but I dearly miss real Fire and Passion in this BenRiach. And that's a peaty! 😂
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende July 29, 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment