Speyside single malt distillery Benromach has released an ultra-rare, limited-edition 50 Year Old whisky that literally captured a piece of its history.
First founded in 1898 by Duncan McCallum and F.W. Brickman during the whisky boom during the turn of the last century, Benromach is far from being one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland. But it stands out for being a rare distillery on Speyside producing whisky using peat, a style more commonly associated to Islay.
Over the years, financial challenges saw Benromach passed through various owners and periods of closure. But its fortunes were revived when independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected whisky companies, acquired it in 1993. Gordon & MacPhail invested heavily in refurbishing and modernising its production facilities, finally reopening the distillery in 1998 exactly 100 years after its founding.
But one thing Gordon & MacPhail retained is Benromach’s steadfast emphasis on small-scale, traditional production methods. It continued to rely heavily on manual operations from mashing and fermentation to distillation and cask selection, ensuring that each batch maintains the distillery’s high standards of quality and its signature style of a traditional Speyside sweetness touched by gentle peat smoke.
The Benromach 50 Year Old, released late last month, is the very epitome of that style.
It is also exceedingly rare, the cask laid down as it is in 1972 during one of the distillery’s troubled periods before its fateful acquisition by Gordon & MacPhail. Coming in at 54.6% ABV, the whisky – according to the distillery – offers “notes of lemon and subtle smoke on the nose, stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather on the palate, before the liquid’s long, full finish ends with cracked pepper and that wisp of smoke.”
The rare expression is presented in handcrafted glass decanters created by Glasstorm, one of the most established hot glass studios in the United Kingdom. Each decanter has been finished using a high-level ‘battuto’ glassmaking technique into a work of art, reflecting Benromach’s own handmade ethos and dedication to traditional methods.
“Each element of Benromach 50 Years Old has been crafted by hand using traditional techniques. This includes the decanter, which not only mirrors the spirit in terms of quality but also embodies the passion and meticulous attention to detail that has gone into crafting it,” shared Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach.
“I’m proud to be distillery manager at a time when we release this exquisite single malt, the epitome of our dedication to create exceptional whiskies by hand,” Cruickshank added.
“It is truly a memorable experience for the team to be able to release this very special whisky; a single malt that has been made by hand and shaped by time.”
Only 248 decanters of this single cask release are available worldwide, retailing at £20,000 (S$31,500). For more information on Benromach or the Benromach 50 Years Old, visit: www.benromach.com.
[Photo credit: Gordon & MacPhail]
Official Tasting Notes – Benromach 50 Years Old (54.6% ABV)
Nose Smooth citrus peel with hints of strawberry and a touch of smoke. Pineapple notes come to the fore, alongside fruitcake and a dash of lemon sherbet.
Palate Stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather. Medjool dates and flambeed banana give way to toasted almonds.
Finish Full and long finish with cracked black pepper and a wisp of smoke.
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