Benromach 21 Year

Nose: As soon as the sample bottle is opened, the room fills with an aroma of spiced oak, tobacco, cigar ash, and oranges soaked in sherry. It's gorgeous. Palate: Sweet, yet spicy at the same time. Oranges, sherry, canned fruit, a hint of tobacco, and black pepper. Excellent again. Finish: Given the excellent nose and palate, I expected a finish to match, but instead, there's a very brief initial phase of sweet honey and sherry, which quickly turns bitter and more persistent, making it not particularly pleasant. It's a shame about the finish; otherwise, it would have scored a perfect 5.00! Rating: 4.50

Nose: Faint peat smoke, reminiscent of pipe tobacco. Citrus oils, stone fruits, vanilla, brown sugar, and leather. Adding water brings out more citrus while further muting the smoke, making the nose generally more harmonious and balanced. The smoke gradually returns over time. Palate: A dry arrival with abundant spices, pepper, salt, and orange oil. A subtle hint of smoke. Water slightly sweetens the initial taste and mellows the spiky spice notes (making them resemble cooked curry spices rather than fresh), but it also introduces an astringent sourness. The texture is pleasant but not exceptional. Finish: Long. Drying. Notes of preserved ginger and orange marmalade. This bottling is the more refined and reserved older sibling to the 15-year-old, but it lacks the presence and weight of the younger malt. The 15-year-old is distinctly more substantial and notably smokier, and for me, it's simply more enjoyable. Like most peated whiskies, Benromach begins to lose its intensity around 18 years of age. Given the particularly fine, warm, and soothing character of Benromach's peat, I view this decline as a disadvantage overall. This is a quality malt, but I'm not compelled to purchase it. Tasted at the distillery. Rating: “Very Good” - 85/100 (4 stars)

Nose: Sherry, dark fruit, raisins, citrus, molasses, warm spices. Palate: Cooked fruit, orange, spice, cocoa, black pepper, faint traces of smoke. Finish: Sherry, subtle wood, hot peppers, fruitcake. A pleasant tartness emerges at the conclusion. Moderately extended finish. A delightful pour. It experiences a somewhat watery texture, but it's a small annoyance. Finished tied for second place among the six spirits, earning 17% of the votes for the evening's top pick. (65% of attendees indicated they liked the spirit). This received my vote for best, though the competition was very tight among most options.

Semisweet, oily, rich, mildly spicy, malty, with dried red fruits, orange peel, nutty sherry, raisins, and a bit of earthy peat smoke. A very enjoyable Scotch that suits my preferences. On 8/9/25, it has lost some of its appeal. Everything seems a bit duller now. Reduced by 1/4 point.

It's rather aggressive, especially considering the cost, but the aromas and flavors are incredibly vibrant.

Caramel, a touch of fruit, and aged notes of tobacco and leather.