Benromach Organic

*My bottle: Distilled 2010, bottled 2017. Nose: Malted barley, butterscotch, vanilla, leather, some very fine fresh oak and a touch of tobacco. There's a heathery note as well. A very crisp nose. Palate: Dry and bittersweet arrival, intensely cereal and malty - like munching down on a handful of freshly milled grist. A light cereal sweetness, and adding water brings out more sweetness and a spiciness from the grain that is otherwise completely hidden. Such an unrelentingly cereal palate! Finish: Short. Soft, clean, and ... hey, where did it go? This has a clearer and more cereal nose than any other Benromach I've tasted, and with a drop of water it blooms and promises a refreshing and crisp palate. That it certainly is, but there is also delicacy to the point of shyness. Some light aromas and flavours flash about but there is an overall lack of character. Maybe it's too refined for a rough old codger with taste buds burnt out after years of whisky drinking? There's certainly nothing unpleasant about it, and it does have a kind of austere sophistication. The nose is very nice, the palate crisp and dry and the finish sweet, simple and short. It's the whisky equivalent of a dry white wine that is so icy clean it almost tastes like water. Unfortunately I like my whiskies with a bit more personality, even if they are sometimes uncouth and not fit for genteel company. (I am led to believe that the 2010 batch is different in profile to the earlier expressions). In the final analysis this strikes me as being like a refined Glenmorangie Original or Glenfiddich 12. Well made, clean, poised, but best used as a safe everyday tipple or the first baseline malt of a tasting session. I cannot begin to comprehend the official score of 95 given to this when the 15 Year Old and Peated expressions are so clearly superior. I wish I could give this more, because sitting here with the very pleasant light aftertaste it leaves I have a positive impression, and I can imagine many whisky drinkers would appreciate its qualities more than I, however in the end, I'm just not that impressed. "Good" : 83/100 (3.5 stars)

Went exploring to specifically seek out this bottle as it is one of the few Scotch offerings with organic barley. Benromach does not identify the farms where the barley is grown but they do indicate that every step of the process is certified by the UK Soil Association. Not surprising that this whisky showcases the quality of the barley throughout. Fresh spring cereal with a hint of oak & vanilla on the nose. The cereal notes are even more prominent on the palate and mesh nicely with the peppery spice of the virgin oak. Super clean and vibrant - quite enjoyable. A sliver of water is key to coax out the best characteristics of the barley. This whisky is young but the quality is definitely apparent even if it never really ‘wowed’. As I worked through the bottle, the grin on my face got bigger each time I reached for this. Rating: The Distiller score is through the stratosphere and probably 5 points too high. 90 for me. Would I buy again? Sure at some point, but I’m not rushing out to replenish the bottle. At $72, this plays in a very competitive arena. Distilled:2010 Bottled: 2016

One of Benromach's flag ships, the "Organic" expression has gained some popularity in the past years. I don't usually have good experiences with anything organic, and i have had few whiskies made that way and they weren't very good. Benromach means "The Peak" in gaelic, and it was reopened with a special guest in 1998, that guest was Prince Charles. Bottled at 43%abv, pale straw color. On the nose, interesting, a little strange and definitively organic. Malted barley, cotton candy, hay. Smells like a farm. Coffee, salty crackers, gas water; feels powdery. It has this strange feeling that resembles a coca cola. On the palate, it is not great. Honey, red apples, nutty and floral. Aftertaste is spicy, short and not very appealing. Pepper, ham and chilli. Nothing else. Overall, i have read some very nice reviews on this one, but for me it was a complete dissapointment. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad nor off-putting, it is just too simple and not very tasty. My score for it is 78 over 100.

Please note, this review referis to the very first edition of the bottling, the 2006. The color is dark amber, very strong, amazing considering is without artigicial colouring. The scent is very sweet, almost cloying (at times reminiscent of a Bourbon), even to let it breathe does not give a step: vanilla in profusion, caramel, a pinch of citrus. Wood is also very present (a bit like smelling the beads of a newly renovated mountain hut): the aging is unknown (it is said between 5 and 6 years) but the youthfulness of both whisky and wood is well present . In the long run, there is also some banana. The scent of wood remains strong on the palate, like drinking an extract of shavings, softened on the sweet (almost biscuity) and fruity side. Not very incisive and a little boring, without any particular flicker. The finish remains sweet with a hint of bitterness, not very long.

Just OK. I wanted to taste more of the barely in this , given its schtick. I didn't...I get a somewhat watery tartness with some light nuttiness. There's a more grassy note than cereal, which is again disappointing. The youngness is really apparent: lacking deep flavors, peppery heat, no finish. I hate that it's $60+ a bottle for something that's no more than 6 years old. They couldn't let it sit another few years? Do organic grains not age well? Does age matter? I'd say yes, when it's this young and not a blend of multiple ages. I don't need more than a good 10 or 12 to be super happy with quality. This is worth half it's price - and I've said this same thing about 21+ year old ones too.

Being the first whisky to be certified 'Organic' by UK Soil Association standards, this single malt is a bit of a trend-setter. Maturation in American virgin oak casks gives this Benromach a surprising depth and complexity, which is rarely found at this young age. On the nose, I get banana, apricots and toffee with lemongrass, marshmallows and hints of fresh mint. All very sweet and spicy. Tropical fruits, green tea and even a touch of chili follow on the palate before the lingering, cask-dominated and mildly dry finish kicks in. This dram is refreshingly different! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]