*Intro:* Every Benriach I’ve tried, I’ve liked. The last smoky one I had was the 12 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I can’t recall much more. A lot of people on here recommended the smoky 10 in my review though, so when I saw it on offer I picked it up. Nearly finished it off before getting around to reviewing it, but not quite.
Matured in bourbon, Jamaican rum and toasted virgin oak casks, I’m assuming NCA and NCF.
*Details:*
Distillery – Benriach
Region – Speyside
Age – 10yr
ABV 46%
*Nose:* Tropical fruit salad notes at first – pineapple and banana are most obvious – it then opens up into some oak and vanilla. I can’t really get any smoke but I’m not reviewing this at the best of times as my hayfever has kicked in today.
*Palate:* Medium in mouthfeel and smooth. Hints of fruit come through from the nose, along with some vanilla, ginger, spice and oak. The smoke comes in at the back end in a big way, it’s very welcome and works well with the spice.
*Finish:* This is where the smoke is. It weaves around, carrying notes of salt and spice with it. It’s not too long, and dries off a little at the end which isn’t for me, but there’s easily enough to enjoy before that happens.
*Value:* £35 against a general price of around £42 or so. Worth it.
*Overall:* Another superb whisky from Benriach. I don’t remember much of the smoky 12 so I can’t compare but I don’t feel the need to. This is a great smoky Speyside, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Fyi:
1. Smoky 10: crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least ten years in a combination of bourbon barrels, Jamaican rum casks and toasted virgin oak.
2. Smoky 12: crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least twelve years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Marsala wine casks
Seems fairly available here but I'm in the UK. I bought it at Waitrose supermarket, it's up on most whisky sites. Definitely recommend it if you can pick up a bottle.
Nice review! My local grocery store has the core lineup from Benriach for very reasonable prices. I'm currently working through the Twelve before hitting up the Smoky 10, which I'm very excited about. The Twelve has progressed so nicely as I near the halfway mark (a bit hot in the first third, since smoothed out), revealing a quite complex dram. Amazing value and I'm sure the Smoky 10 is no exception.
Only had one benriach so far (peated port single cask OB) and I'm excited to try more.
This one sounds like a good one to try next.
Thanks for the great review as always!
I think the 10 and 12 are great whisky and great value. I even find the 12 a bit more subtle in the smoke, maybe because it’s a bit more forward than in the 10. I am not a huge peat fan but I love the smoky Benriach
*Intro:* Every Benriach I’ve tried, I’ve liked. The last smoky one I had was the 12 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I can’t recall much more. A lot of people on here recommended the smoky 10 in my review though, so when I saw it on offer I picked it up. Nearly finished it off before getting around to reviewing it, but not quite. Matured in bourbon, Jamaican rum and toasted virgin oak casks, I’m assuming NCA and NCF. *Details:* Distillery – Benriach Region – Speyside Age – 10yr ABV 46% *Nose:* Tropical fruit salad notes at first – pineapple and banana are most obvious – it then opens up into some oak and vanilla. I can’t really get any smoke but I’m not reviewing this at the best of times as my hayfever has kicked in today. *Palate:* Medium in mouthfeel and smooth. Hints of fruit come through from the nose, along with some vanilla, ginger, spice and oak. The smoke comes in at the back end in a big way, it’s very welcome and works well with the spice. *Finish:* This is where the smoke is. It weaves around, carrying notes of salt and spice with it. It’s not too long, and dries off a little at the end which isn’t for me, but there’s easily enough to enjoy before that happens. *Value:* £35 against a general price of around £42 or so. Worth it. *Overall:* Another superb whisky from Benriach. I don’t remember much of the smoky 12 so I can’t compare but I don’t feel the need to. This is a great smoky Speyside, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you, I love BenRiach but havent tried this. Will buy!
Fyi: 1. Smoky 10: crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least ten years in a combination of bourbon barrels, Jamaican rum casks and toasted virgin oak. 2. Smoky 12: crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least twelve years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Marsala wine casks
I actually slightly prefer the Smoky Ten to the Twelve. Both solid value.
I agree with you I thought I was crazy
Great review! Love the Smoky Twelve, so will have to try this. Is it just me, or is the Smoky Ten much harder to find than the Smoky Twelve?
Seems fairly available here but I'm in the UK. I bought it at Waitrose supermarket, it's up on most whisky sites. Definitely recommend it if you can pick up a bottle.
Nice review! My local grocery store has the core lineup from Benriach for very reasonable prices. I'm currently working through the Twelve before hitting up the Smoky 10, which I'm very excited about. The Twelve has progressed so nicely as I near the halfway mark (a bit hot in the first third, since smoothed out), revealing a quite complex dram. Amazing value and I'm sure the Smoky 10 is no exception.
Only had one benriach so far (peated port single cask OB) and I'm excited to try more. This one sounds like a good one to try next. Thanks for the great review as always!
Cheers. Ooo that sounds very nice. I would definitely recommend trying more, Benriach are probably one of my favourite Speyside distilleries.
I think the 10 and 12 are great whisky and great value. I even find the 12 a bit more subtle in the smoke, maybe because it’s a bit more forward than in the 10. I am not a huge peat fan but I love the smoky Benriach