Benriach - The Smoky Ten
The Basics:
Benriach Distillery
92 Proof - NCF
10 Year Age Statement
$50 MSRP
Nose:
Grilled peaches, chocolate, pecans, light brine, and smoke.
Palate:
Chocolate, espresso, light smoke, honey, peaches in syrup, white flesh fruit, and subtle black tea.
Finish:
Medium finish with building smoke, brininess from the nose, and powdered sugar.
Final Thoughts:
The Smoky Ten from Benriach is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, toasted virgin oak, and Jamaican rum casks. These barrels are evident in the tasting as there is a candy-like sweetness throughout. The nose opens with strong smoke reminiscent of a charcoal grill, along with peaches and a light brine that I tend to find on scotches aged near the ocean. The palate is surprisingly fruit forward with a rich honey-sweetness as the smoke takes a back seat before emerging stronger than ever on the finish. The smokiness is the defining feature on the finish, which slowly subsides to reveal a nice powdered sugar sweetness. This scotch certainly lives up to it’s name, The Smoky, but in a way that does not overwhelm your palate, and still allows you to experience some nice sweet fruit notes.