Benriach, Shades of Smoke
Speyside distillery Benriach opens its Shades of Smoke collection with a 31-year-old whisky built on an oddity: smoke. This vintage was laid down in the spring and summer of 1994, the year the distillery leaned into a sweeter style of that smoky whisky. Master blender Rachel Barrie has married the casks three decades on, while generative artist Stefano Contiero — after tasting alongside her — reinterpreted the whisky as bespoke digital artwork for each bottle.
Nose
Kumquat, pastry, toffee
Palate
Juniper, Parma ham, roasted nuts
Finish
Treacle, dark oak, barbecue smoke
This Speyside slow-sipper stands apart from the regional pack by delivering faint echoes of barbecue smoke in its otherwise sugary nose. Grilled plums and toffee crunch compete for attention upon initial sip. This sip is all about nuance: baker's chocolate, cured meat smoke, forest floor. It's all there, but restrained and balanced. Meanwhile, the back palate is more earthy and umami-driven. Regarding the finish, there is syrup-drenched summer fruit at the onset, but it fades somewhat rapidly to reveal a cloud of smoldering earth. Before it goes away altogether, a botanical edge confirms earlier suspicions that this is a curious and contemplative Scotch.
Style
Details
Benriach, Shades of Smoke
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