Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke 2012 Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 70cl
An earlier vintage of Benromach's celebrated heavily peated Contrasts expression — and one that invites a fascinating comparison with more recent batches. Distilled in 2012 using barley malted to a high phenol level and matured exclusively in first-fill bourbon barrels, the 2012 Peat Smoke showcases Benromach's most assertively peated character in the clean, vanilla-driven register that only first-fill bourbon wood can deliver — the absence of sherry influence allowing the bold, dry, mainland Highland peat to express itself with full clarity alongside the sweet vanilla and fresh citrus that the bourbon casks contribute. Small-batch produced, non-chill filtered, natural colour.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE
Very rich smoke with fragrant vanilla and light citrus zest — hints of apple, white chocolate, roasted nuts, lemon sherbet, and a clean, dry Highland peat character that is precise and beautifully focused.
PALATE
Smooth and sweet with toasted oak, honey, and ripe fruit — butterscotch, marshmallow, lemon sherbet, flamed orange peel, and apricot present alongside the bold smoke, with the clean dry peat leading the experience from start to finish.
FINISH
Mouth-coating sweetness and bonfire embers — long and warmly satisfying with the smoke building gradually and the vanilla sweetness of the bourbon cask lingering beautifully throughout.
ABV: 46% ABV