Wolfburn Morven

“Fire on the Mountain”

Whisky Review # 1062

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Wolfburn Morven

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Lightly Peated: 10 PPM

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: 50% 1st Fill Bourbon Casks and 50% Quarter Casks from Islay

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 35-45 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good, if you like Young, lightly Peated Whisky
Buying Advice: 😐 It's Light, Thin, Young and Simple but not really bad

Colour: White Wine/Pale Straw  (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Light, Young and a little Edgy. The Alcohol is noticeable. Quite a few Burnt notes (Resin, Straw, Plastic). Orchard Fruit and Citrus. It's similar to Young Islay but less pungent. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast & Margarine, Vanilla, Yeast, Burnt Resin, Plastic, Matches and Straw, Cold Smoke,Dirty Earthy Peat, Red Apple, Lemon, Nectarine, Dairy, Rubber, Floral Perfume and Metal.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Wax, Grass, Iodine, Tar, Ashes, Pear, Orange, Grilled Pineapple, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Varnish, Wet Sand, Cooked Vegetables, Smoked Meat, Mint, Cinnamon and Pepper.   

Palate:

Young, Light, Thin, Fresh & slightly Sharp. There's a Menthol-like Freshness to it. It's Sweet but it also offers some Sour & Salty notes. Simple but not unpleasant. The Alcohol remains noticeable. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Hospital, Grass and Straw, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Fresh Herbs, Salt, Menthol, Pepper and Ginger.  

    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Orange, Pear, Nectarine, Green Tea, Dusty Oak, White Chocolate, Almonds, Rubber, Leather, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and BBQ.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Light, Thin and Young. Mainly Sweet but with a few Sour and Salty notes for contrast. A slight Herbal Bitterness towards the end. I also find Sweet & Malted Barley, Vanilla, Yeast, Grass, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Grapefruit, Orange, Lemon, Nectarine, Green Apple, Unripe Pear, Ashes, Hospital, Licorice, Aniseed, Fresh Herbs, Cooked Vegetables, Alcohol, Toasted Almonds, Brine, Salt, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Dusty Oak, Cocoa Powder and Smoked Meat.   

Drinking Advice:

With added Water this Morven becomes Liquid, Thin Peat. Better enjoy it neat. 

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** 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.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

Wolfburn is a young distillery. It was founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Thurso, very close to the ruins of the old Wolfburn distillery that was founded in 1821 but closed down at the end of the 19th century. Wolfburn is owned by Aurora Brewing Ltd & has a current production capacity of around 135.000 litres. The core range includes the 10 Year old, Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and enjoyed it. Certainly worth a visit! The Morven was first released in 2017, It is named after the highest mountain (706 m) in the county of Caithness.

Morven is a young, thin and lightly peated Single Malt. It's quite straightforward & simple but not totally unpleasant. The P/Q ratio is good. If you like young peated Islay you might give it a go. But if you like longer matured peated whisky like the Lagavulin 16 you should not consider climbing this Morven.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 10, 2025

Macallan Lumina

“You’re No Good”

Whisky Review # 1059

Country: Scotland
Region: Highland/Speyside

Brand: Macallan Lumina - The Quest Collection

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 41.3%
Maturation: Mix of Sherry-Seasoned European/American Oak casks & Hogsheads 
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 120-180 (March 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 👎 Better stick to the standard distillery bottlings

Colour:

Golden (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young and on the Thin side. Not the best casks for sure. Probably 2nd and/or 3rd Refill. Some Oloroso influence. Sweet Candy, Orchard Fruit & Vanilla are the main drivers. Not good enough for a Macallan at this price level.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Sugar, Sweet Apples & Pears, Sweet Candy (Strawberry, Raspberry, Orange, Grape), Lemon, Dusty Oak, Pepper and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Glue, Treacle, Slivovitz, Nuts, Milk Chocolate, Floral Soap, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves.  

Palate:

Young and Thin. Light Sherry influence. There's something Artificial/Industrial to this Lumina. It's not giving me a lot of pleasure that's for sure.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Apples & Pears, Mixed Red Berries, Lemon and Grapefruit, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Buttered Toast, Wax, Floral Soap, Hazelnuts, Cloves and Nutmeg.  

Finish:

On the Short Side. Sugary Sweet at first but with a light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. A slightl Metallic off-note. I also find Sweet Barley, Vanilla and Toffee, Sugar, Tart Apple Pie with Raisins and sprinkled with Cinnamon & Powder Sugar, Pear, Milk Chocolate, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dairy, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg, Ginger and Licorice.  

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Lumina.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - 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.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below average

Conclusion:

The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid and is located in the village of Craigellachie (Morayshire). The majority of the shares is owned by the Edrington Group. The current production amounts to around 15 million litres per year. The core range includes a/o Sherry Oak, 12, 18, 25, 30 and the 12, 15, 18 and 30 Double Cask. We have visited both the old & the new distillery and liked the old one better. For some reason I don't like the combination of Modern infra-structure and Whisky. I'm more the Springbank kinda guy!

The Lumina was part of the Travel Retail Quest Collection, together with Quest, Terra and Enigma. This collection was replaced in 2023 by the 12,15,18,21 and 30 Years Colour Collection. I will try to find samples of this new collection.

Lumina is the Goddess of Wisdom and Illumination. Both not applicable to this Single Malt unfortunately. It's such a pity that most of the Travel Retail Malts are simply lacking quality casks & sufficient maturation. This Macallan is no exception to the rule I'm afraid. Good thing it has been discontinued in the meantime!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                      March 19, 2025

Dalmore The Quintet

“Dalmore Than I Can Bear” 

Whisky Review # 1056

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Dalmore The Quintet

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 44.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with a finish in a very interesting mix of Moscatel, Madeira, Sherry, Port and Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) casks 
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price: US$ 100 (February 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😏 A bit too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 👎 Better stay with the regular 12 Years or 15 Years

Colour:

Chestnut with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Thinner than expected. The Red Wine & Port casks seem to have gained the upper hand although I get some old Sherry as well. The Nose is a mix of Sweet & Sour notes with lots of Dark Red Fruit. I get a little Sulfur but it's harmless. The Alcohol is noticeable. I do suggest to give this Dalmore sufficient time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up slowly. It's a bit Acidic as well.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Prunes, Apricots and Figs, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, Red Grapes/Wine, Dusty Earth, Casks in a Dunnage Warehouse, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves. A bit of Chocolate after a while. 

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Brown Sugar, Dough, Straw, Blueberry Muffins, Banana, Pineapple, Cranberry, Dried Herbs, Wet Leaves & Paper, Polished Leather Upholstery, Pepper and Mint.        

Palate:

A slightly Young, Thin and Hot mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. Nevertheless the Palate is my favorite part of this Dalmore for a change. Quite Dry and Tannic.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Grain, Vanilla, Dark Red Berries and Cherries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Plums, Prunes, Figs & Apples, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, Licorice, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and Menthol/Mint.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Syrup, Straw, Nectarine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dusty Earth, Polished Leather Upholstery, Espresso, Wet Leaves, Coconut, Cinnamon, Cardamom and  Ginger.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Tannic and a little Hot and on the Thin side. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. Some Sour notes as well. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Prunes, Plums & Figs, Mixed Nuts, Honey, Straw, Dried Herbs, Red Grapes/Wine, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Dusty Track, Wet Leaves, Polished old Leather Upholstery, Cigar Box, Seville-Orange, Espresso, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Licorice and Menthol/Mint.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve The Quintet.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5 

*** 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.

Drinking Experience:

It's not really bad but I expected a lot more! 

Conclusion:

The Dalmore distillery is located close to Alness and was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay Ltd, part of Emperador Inc. During the last 15 years or so, Master Blender Richard Patterson did a lot to reposition Dalmore as a worldwide Single Malt. The distillery currently produces around 5.3 million litres but will increase the capacity to 9 million litres. in 2025. Everything should be ready by August this year. The core range exists of the 12, 12 Sherry Cask Select, 15, 18, 21, 25, King Alexander III, Cigar Malt Reserve and Port Wood Reserve. The current Travel Retail range introduced in 2019 includes The Trio, The Quartet and The Quintet.

In the majority of cases Single Malts that are part of the Travel Retail series tend to disappoint. The Quintet is no exception to the rule unfortunately. Exotic casks like the Moscatel and Madeira barrels, the 30 Year-old Matusalem Sherry barrels, the 10 year-old Port barrels and the Cabernet Sauvignon barrels can only partially hide the Youth of this Dalmore. And despite the adequate ABV there's a Thin feeling to this Quintet. I would love to see distilleries concentrating on good casks and their core range. And while I understand the commercial strategy behind Special Editions & Travel Retail Exclusives, you should probably stay with the core range as well. Despite the nice presentation and the stories!

Cheers! Jan. 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    February 2, 2025

Singleton of Glendullan 19 Years

“You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone”

Whisky Review # 1055

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: The Singleton of Glendullan - 2021 Special Edition - Distilled: 2001

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

Age: 19 Years - Bottled: 2021

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.6% (At or around Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks with Cognac-Seasoned Cask Finish
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: US$ 160 (January 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 😑 It doesn't really work for me. Try a sample first! 

Color:

Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Alcohol is quite strong so avoid Nosing in the middle of your glass. I also get the European Oak of the Cognac cask finish at once. The Nose feels Light and on the Thin side and you wouldn't give it 19 years at first glance. It opens slowly so you will need some patience here. The Nose presents a mix of Sweet & Sour notes with lots of Yellow Fruit around. I had expected more to be honest.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Green Apple, Lemon, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts (Studentenhaver), Wine Cellar, Grass, Coconut, Wet Stones & Sand, Wet Leaves and Earth, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Mint.        

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Blueberry Muffins, Nectarine, Grapefruit, Seville Orange, Pear, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit mixture, Wax, Floral Perfume, Tobacco & Cocoa. A hint of Polished Leather. 

 

Palate:

A slightly Hot and Unbalanced mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. The Alcohol is really present. Quite Dry as well.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Vanilla, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Grass, Wine Cellar, Charred Oak, Wet Rocks, Floral Soap, Chili, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint.           

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Wax, Seville-Orange, Nectarine, Slivovitz, Bounty Bars, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Cloves and Oriental Spice mix.    

Finish:

Middle-Long with Bitter, Sweet & Sour elements. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. Quite Tannic. The Cognac Finish is noticeable. I find Malted Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Yeast, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts, Pear, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Seville-Orange, Floral Soap, Bitter Chocolate, Artificial Sweetener, Aspirin, Dusty Charred Oak, Espresso, Slivovitz, Leather and Tobacco, Wine Cellar, Wet Rocks, Metal, Chilli, Cinnamon, Ginger, Oriental Spice Mix and Mint. The Alcohol is slightly aggressive after swallowing.   

Drinking Advice:

Added Water helps to ease the Heat somewhat but does not improve the package as a whole although I get more Fruity notes (Peach/Nectarine) on the Palate. I still prefer it neat though. 

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5  

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is 8 or higher 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.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion:

The first Glendullan Distillery was founded in Dufftown by William Williams & Sons in 1896. In 1972, a second Glendullan Distillery was constructed next to the old one. They operated together until the old distillery was closed in 1985. The current owner is Diageo. Most of the Spirit of Glendullan was and is -used in Diageo Blends. Since 2007, the Single Malts produced at Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown are marketed under the name "The Singleton". The Glendullan core range includes the  12, 15 and 18 Years as well as the Reserve Collection. Annual output amounts to around 5 million litres of alcohol.

Once in a while you encounter a whisky that is neither fish nor fowl as the British say. This Glendullan is one of them in my opinion. It's not really bad but neither is it well-structured. It's a Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Spicy & Hot mix of Flavors & Aromas that somehow are at war with each other. The very high ABV does not help here as well. It does not work for me and my advise to you would be to try a sample first before deciding to buy a full bottle.

Cheers 🥃 

Jan                                                                                        January 26, 2025 

Ledaig 12 (Gordon & MacPhail)

“The Slightly Dirty 12”

Whisky Review # 1053

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Mull

Brand: Ledaig 

Distilled at: Tobermory Distillery

Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail, Elgin - Discovery Series

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon casks and Sherried European Oak casks
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price range: US$ 60-70 (January 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay

Buying Advice: 😐 It's okay but I kinda prefere the standard 10 Years

Color:

Golden (Natural Color)

Nose:

The characteristic "Dirty" smell of Ledaig is there but in a milder form. The Nose has got Sweet, Sour and Salty elements and is a little Rough. The Alcohol is there but does not really interfere with the Nosing procedures. There's a bit of a Farm yard feel to this Ledaig. The Sherry Cask influence is limited.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Dough, Smoked Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Salt and Herbs, Grass and Straw, Green Apple, Farm-yard, Dried Apricot, Salted Peanuts, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon, Ginger & Mint.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey-Nut Cereals, Banana, Orange, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Dirty Earth, Petrol Station, Hospital, Burnt Rubber, Ashes, Fish, Metal, Leather and Slivovitz.  

 

Palate:

A little on the Thin side but still my favorite part of this Ledaig. It's like tasting a dram in a factory facility temporarily used as a field hospital. It's a Medium-Dry mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Salty and Dirty notes. Bourbon cask notes are in the lead.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Salt & Herbs, Dusty Cask, Dirty Muddy Peat, Ashes, Tar, Soot, Green Apple, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and Licorice.    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey-Nuts Cereals, Toffee, Seville-Orange, Tobacco, Leather, Hospital, Banana, Strawberry, Rubber, Plastic, Metal, Wet Rocks, Cocoa, Aniseed, Mint and Nutmeg. 

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Bitter-Sweet. Additional Sour & Salty notes. Medium Dry. A light Plastic off-note. I also find Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Smoked Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Herbs & Salt, Ashes, Tar, Dirty Muddy Peat, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Banana, Orange, Dried Apricot, Wet Rocks, Rubber, Peanuts, Tobacco, Leather, Cocoa, Licorice, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves. Some Mint/Menthol as well. 

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Ledaig

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is 8 or higher 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.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay except for the Plastic Off-Note

Conclusion:

Ledaig means Safe Haven. It's the name of the peated expressions of Tobermory. The core range of the distillery now includes the Tobermory 12, the Ledaig 10 & 18 Years as well as the Ledaig Rioja Finish.

I'm usually a big fan of Gordon & MacPhail but this 12 Year old Ledaig doesn't fully convince me. The Sherry cask influence is very limited and I'm not too fond of the Plastic off-note. And it's somehow also slightly less "Dirty in a Good Way' than the official distillery bottlings. The P/Q ratio is okay and it's not a bad Single Malt. But I slightly prefer the standard Ledaig 10 Years

I wish all my readers and their families a very Happy and Healthy 2025!

Cheers 🥃 

                                                                                             January 5, 2025

Jan van den Ende                           

BenRiach Smoky Quarter Cask

“To Peat Or Not To Peat That’s the Question”

Whisky Review # 1052

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: BenRiach Smoky Quarter Cask 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46% 
Maturation: Ex-Bourbons Casks followed by Quarter Casks 

Chill Filtration: Yes 

Price Average: US$ 55-65 (December 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 👍 Good place to get to know Smoky Malt. A bit too Thin for me!

Color:

Golden (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

Young and Light. The Alcohol is noticeable so don't Nose in the middle of your glass. There's Campfire Smoke and Dusty Peat but it's not as pungent as in Young Islay. It's a good place to start your Smoky Whisky trip. The Nose is not unpleasant but it is a little on the Thin side.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Grass & Straw, Campfire Smoke, Dusty Peat, Ashes, Banana Bread, Dried Apricots, Toasted Nuts, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Vanilla, slightly Tart Apples & Pears, Tar, Soot, Dusty Track, Wet Paper or Cardboard, Plastic, Smoked Meat, Leather and a hint of Slivovitz.      

Palate:

A youthful mix of Campfire Smoke, Tart Fruit and Spices. It will certainly warm you after a walk in the cold. The Alcohol remains noticeable. Quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Campfire Smoke, Dusty Peat, Ashes, Banana, Tart Apples and Pears, Lemon, Charred Oak, Toasted Nuts, Pepper, Ginger, Licorice and Salt. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Caramel, Wax, Burnt Toast, Soot, Tar, Dried Apricot, Plastic, Petrol, Leather, Black Tea, Dried Herbs, Slivovitz, Cinnamon, Menthol, Bitter Espresso & Dark Chocolate. 

Finish:

On the Short side as a whole. The Chili Pepper stays a little longer. The BenRiach can't hide its Youth anymore and the Finish is slightly Rough and Edgy. It's a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Salty notes. Increasingly Dry towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Campfire Smoke, Earthy Peat, Toasted Nuts, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Charred Oak, Dusty Track, Tart Apples and Pears, Lemon, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Menthol, Licorice, Leather, Plastic, Strong Espresso, Burnt Toast and a distant hint of Smoked Salmon. 

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and although it calms down the Alcohol it also transforms this BenRiach in a sort of peated Barley Juice. I prefer it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7   

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher 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.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but a little too Thin for me.

 

Conclusion:

The BenRiach distillery was founded in 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 produced more or less 1,5 million litres in 2024. The core range includes a/o the original 10, the Smoky 10, the 12, the Smoky 12, the 16,21,25,30 and 40 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.

The Smoky Quarter Cask was launched in 2021 and was initially released for the Travel Retail market only. It is made with both peated and unpeated Spirit. As such it's certainly not a Peat monster and a good way to start your peated Whisky adventure. I can therefore clearly see the attraction this Single Malt presents, even more so as it is pleasantly priced. The more experienced Peat fan will miss the punch of Young Islay Malt and in general will find this BenRiach on the Thin side. I also detected a few light off-notes. But if you're looking for an affordable day-to-day lightly peated dram, this BenRiach might just be what you're looking for.

Merry Christmas to all of you and your families!

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                December 25, 2024