BenRiach Curiositas 10 Year

This is one of the few heavily peated Speyside whiskies from the BenRiach distillery. The distillery mostly makes unpeated scotch, making this expression rather unique (though not rare), which likely explains the "curiositas" in its name. Historically, all whiskies had some peat due to the drying method for barley, including Speyside malts, but this is uncommon today. The distillery boasts an interesting past. Production began in 1898, but it ceased after only two years for 65 years. It was revived in 1965 by Glenlivet Distillers and has changed ownership several times, including being independently owned by The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd in 2004. It is now owned by Brown-Forman, which also owns Jack Daniels, Old Forester, and GlenDronach. BenRiach uses pear-shaped pot stills with no constrictor or reflux bowl on the neck. This 10-year-old peated expression is non-chill-filtered, bottled at 46% ABV, and has a natural light yellow color. The aroma is rich with smoke, comparable in PPM to Islay whiskies. However, the smoke's character is different: more savory, meaty, earthy, and ashy tar, rather than medicinal and iodine-forward (though some iodine is present). There's also a honey sweetness, brininess, floral honeysuckle notes at the back, a hint of fresh fruit like apples and pears, and a touch of sulfur. The palate offers sweet smoke with oaky undertones and background spice. It's quite pleasant, followed by a relatively short but agreeable dry wood barrel finish. Despite its youth, I find this dram very interesting and engaging, with the peat character becoming increasingly distinct from Islay peat as I drink more. Adding a little water softens the smoke and rounds out the palate. The umami meatiness and sweetness become more prominent, and the finish loses its charred barrel note. I would advise against adding too much water, as this dram can easily become diluted despite its decent ABV. Overall, this is an excellent dram for peat enthusiasts. The peat differs from Islay, which is evident in this whisky's character. It offers a lot despite its young age, making me curious about its older counterparts.

Nose - earthy peat, smoked meat, honey, pear, apple, leather, floral notes, polished oak, vanilla cream, orange, lemon, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - smoked meat, lemon meringue, vanilla, apple, pear, honey, sour oak, clove, ginger, chili pepper, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with meaty peat, lemon, and chili pepper flavors. This is the first of six BenRiach reviews I have planned, covering a few peated and unpeated offerings from the distillery. The nose is peaty smoked meat, somewhere in the the Caol Ila or Balvenie Peat Week range of aromas. Aside from that, there are some nice vanilla, lemon, and orchard fruit balancing the savory notes. The palate is light and smoky. There are strong citrus and pepper components as well. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and the finish is mediocre. As far as I can tell, this is discontinued and effectively replaced by the Smoky Ten from the new core range, which I’ll be reviewing tomorrow. It’s obviously an entry level expression, but it’s a good one. Pricing on this seems to have been all over the place, but at $50 or $60 a bottle, I’d say it was a really solid value. Let’s hope I can say the same for the new Smoky Ten. Many thanks to a generous sample provider!

Nose - Subtle smoky sweetness, diluted honey, mild pear, delicate floral and citrus hints. Taste - Smooth, slightly smoky ash flavor, a warming peppery sensation, pear, weak honey, a hint of lemon cookie, a spirit with a straightforward malt character. Finish - A lasting mild smoky ash, peppery spice, faint honey, and charcoal. Score - 80/100 Final Thoughts - A very simple, agreeable malt-forward Scotch. The peat is not overwhelming, offering a clean, ashy smoke profile. The malt notes are subtle, with light pear and diluted honey, complemented by a touch of lemon zest. It lacks complexity and any unpleasant characteristics, but it is rather unexciting. I suspect it would be lost in a mixed drink and is best enjoyed on its own. This is the kind of drink you have when you want something easy to sip while doing tasks like gardening. Would I consume it if offered? - Yes Would I intentionally order it? - No Would I purchase a bottle? - No NOTE - All evaluations disregard cost.

Soft, restrained nose: the sweet juice of pressed apples mixes with some smoke, with oak barrels here and there in the background. It doesn’t explode in the mouth either, vanilla, some spice and grain, but the nose somehow promised more. The smoke seems to be vanished. Maybe still a tad bit immature? The finish is moderately long and the 46% is duely felt. Correct whiskey if nothing more but its name will be more memorable than the drink itself. But at least not colored! Dry test: pale hints of oak.

Pale yellow with an indistinct body. Citrus, peat, and cereal malt characterize the nose, which has a moderate sharpness. Hints of chalk and an underlying floral vegetation are present. The smoke is quite subdued on the nose in my opinion, contributing to a more complex profile. It begins sweet and mild, presenting a malty palate dominated by vanilla and citrus, but quickly shifts to alkalinity/ash before concluding dryly. The smoke is considerably more noticeable on the palate than the nose. While it seems to share similarities with maritime salty lemon curd styles, it takes a distinct turn towards an alkaline conclusion. Overall, this dual nature is pleasing, offers welcome complexity, and is quite satisfying. Reviewing a discontinued product offers little practical benefit, but I've enjoyed this bottle throughout and consider it a fair value at under $55.

Another delightful smoky scotch, yes, predictable. This bottling isn't from Islay, showing more likeness to a peated Balvenie than an Ardbeg or Laphroaig. The aroma and taste present a deep, sweet smokiness. It's not reminiscent of the sea, a campfire, or barbecue; rather, it evokes melting resin combined with Teaberry gum and uncooked bread dough. A hint of salted pretzel, rich malt, and smooth, non-drying barrel wood complete the profile. The finish is lengthy, though not Islay-level long. You won't be waking up with it, if you catch my drift. I'm not detecting all the fruit others are noting, but nonetheless, I'm very pleased with this scotch. It possesses flavorful intensity with elegance and succulent smoky character. However, the competition is fierce at this price, with options like PC10 and Oogie nearby, plus the usual heavy hitters for less cash. Rest assured, this still excels and is a worthy purchase in its current form. It appears this changes frequently, so I'm unsure of availability for you all... 87/100