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.