Benromach 2009 Peat Smoke

All smoke and no mirrors.

Duncan MacCallum and F. W. Brickmann got together in 1898 and founded Benromach Distillery Company with some damn unfortunate timing. Scotch Whisky was having a bit of a crisis and the pair went broke shortly after opening their doors in 1900. Ever since, the distillery has closed and re-opened several times as it changed ownership, faced world wars, and tried to modernize. In 1993, they were purchased by Gordon and MacPhail — an independent bottler that was turning their cash-flow into production ownership, and notable single malts. The label was successfully relaunched once again, with an official ribbon-cutting by none other than Prince Charles in 2004.

Cut to 2014, when the first single malt was released and brought with it the accolades and awards — including a "Best Speyside Single Malt — 12 Years and Under" at the World Whisky Awards in 2014. For that feat they had to beat Glenlivet, Macallan, Balvenie… as well as Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, and Aberlour... There are no less than 42 Speyside single malt brands out there and this little gem emerged as #1. How's that for a revival?

For the 2009 edition of their Peat Smoke they upgraded the trademark Speyside single malt fruitiness with some serious smoke. It's a small batch affair, as are most bottles coming from the decidedly low-volume distillery. This edition has a tad less peat smoke than its predecessor with phenol levels clocking in at 42ppm (parts per million — for the smoke geeks out there). Oh, and we nearly forgot! It's matured in first fill oak bourbon barrels. Yes, please!