Benromach 2004 Peat Smoke review

Benromach 2004 Peat Smoke is a 9 year old peated single malt from the smallest distillery in Speyside region. It’s been matured in first fill Ex-Bourbon casks and it has a phenol level of 53ppm – it has no added color and un-chill filtered. Benromach distillery is owned by Gordon and MacPhail, who are one of the oldest and largest independent bottlers of Scotch whisky.

Photo by Master of Malt

Whiskybase gives Benromach Peat Smoke 2004 edition an overall score of 84,17 (11/26/2015). This whisky was part of our local Speyside blind tasting and managed to get an overall of 83 points from 12 judges.

JUNO of the whisky world

With a ppm level of 53, this whisky is surprisingly smooth, yet offering some smoke and strong notes of peat. No wonder it’s a Speyside dram, rarely is a smoke whisky so smooth. A citrus perfumed peaty dram with nice sophisticated smoke following on the back.

I have to toot my own horn and mention, that I guessed the age right in our blind tasting. Somehow the age came to my mind, even though this is as smooth as whisky with this kind of peat level can be. I also guessed the distillery, but that’s not a hard thing to do when you have to pick a smoky expression from Speyside.

Anyway, Benromach Peat Smoke is definitely like Juno, the title character played by Ellen Page in the movie. Both are young and unexperienced, yet whip-sharply quick-witted…whatever that means in the whisky world? Sophisticated expression, perhaps.

Matured in:

Ex-Bourbon casks

Colour: Sunlight

Nose: Peat is definitely there, but the smoke is harder to find – it is there, but it’s mild. Very fresh with sophisticated, salty sea air and hints of citrus.

Taste: Little bit of peat along with some crispy and dry citrus. Oil is present in a nice way. Two drops of water strengthens the peat and gives the dram a minty feel.

Finish: Dry with oak and fruits with hints of smoke buried in there.

Balance: Light body, young but good smoke whisky. Without the bit too dull and quick finish the score would have been a bit higher. With young peated drams that’s how the finish usually might be. Still, a tasty dram.