Benromach 1977 Heritage Single Cask #1268

Gordon and MacPhail, Elgin, Shop Tasting, May 4th, 2024, whisky #6 Nose: Orange juice, exotic fruit juice, baked banana, vanilla custard, honey, dried cranberries, gooseberries, poached pears, surprisingly light and vibrant oak, a hint of tobacco. Adding water had minimal effect on the aroma, other than intensifying the citrus notes (see below). Palate: A creamy and slightly sweet initial taste centered on orange, honey, and strawberries. As it evolves, it gains balancing dry elements of hay, tobacco, and cinnamon. Further development introduces spicy, herbal, and mild tannic flavors. The 56% ABV provides a light tingle, but it's less pronounced than expected. Dilution impacts the palate more than the nose, again highlighting the orange characteristics. It's a very well-balanced and captivating palate. Finish: Medium/Long: Orange and subtly spiced honey, with a faint hint of wood spice in the lingering taste. A superb whisky. This is one of three aged Benromach expressions I've now tasted, all distilled and barreled before Gordon & MacPhail acquired the distillery in 1993. While modern Benromach differs from the whisky produced there before the 1990s, there's still a surprising commonality, given the extensive reconstruction of the distillery from 1997-1998. Similar to the 35 and 40-year-old expressions I sampled earlier at the distillery, this was crisp, smooth, and lacked peat. All three displayed maturity and elegance, but none were overpowering or challenging. This was a very welcome surprise as the final dram at the Gordon & MacPhail tasting and was unanimously chosen as the best whisky of the day. I sampled it both neat and diluted, but with only one measure available, I was hesitant to add much water as it was already delightful on its own. I can't recall ever having a disappointing Benromach. My tasting notes indicate I've now tried 12 different expressions, averaging 87 points, including two 89s and two 90s. This positions Benromach among my most highly-rated distilleries. Yes, that sounds accurate. Recommended. "Outstanding": 90/100 (5 stars)