BenRiach The Smoky Ten

BenRiach has been known for it’s peated expressions so clearly this had to be included in the totally new core range. This was a distillate from both peated and unpeated barley and matured on a combination of bourbon casks, virgin oak and Jamaican rum casks. It is clear that Rachel Barrie got access to whatever the warehouses had to offer and used that playground to BenRiach’s advantage. By the way: this is bottled at 46%, while the unpeated version – The Original Ten – has to make do with 43%.

The smokiness is delicate and supportive, certainly not dominating. What is dominating are the apples and greengages, as well as some honey and… coconut! Truly good and fun too.

It could have done with a bit more body I suppose. This is a bit light. But the taste is just fine: honey, peach, greengages, coconut and then a soft layer of smoke on top that brings along some cinnamon and candied ginger.

I am pleasantly surprised in the finish by salted butter, creamy honey and vanilla, but mostly the smokiness that just lingers on. My mouth turns cozily warm. At the death the greengages appear once more and thus form the leitmotif of this malt.

Lovely, friendly priced, peated Benriach. Around 45 EUR.

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