Aroma: At first, I found this whisky smelt like rusty iron. Then there was a sweetness of fruit and finally a delicate smokiness. It is somehow earthy, but also has a fizzy sweets smell – maybe Wham bars?
Taste: Initially this has a heathery sweetness to it that is vegetal and earthy but light.
Then in the middle there is a charcoal sweetness to the whisky, which spreads through the middle of the tounge and descends backwards warming the throat.
As the dram dies away, there is a smoky spice, which sits lingers and almost puffs around the palate (although this might be creative license from the experiential picture of the whisky)
Appearance:Reddish Dark Brown
Real Dram Factor: Oh MY! This is peaty, leathery beast of a whisky. It is dark with sherry, but green with vegetation and then there is an accrid, thick peat smoke that flows around the glass and the mouth. There is something sweet, fresh and minty about it, but there is also something grimy, spicy and tarmac like about it too. Huge fan of this, probably an 8.1 out of 10.
(EDIT: I loved this whisky, but was shocked to find out it was a Speyside and not an Islay. I intend to buy a bottle as soon as my budget allows. It is really rich and sits directly in my whisky wheel house.)
You Will Like This If… you like your whisky smokey and leathery – think Ledaig or Peated Edradour.
ABV: 43%
Price: £45-55
Source: This came from the Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year 2020 Judging Set that I picked up. So the whisky was reviewed blind and then the name has been added at a later date, then published with the key information added.
More Information: https://www.benromach.com/whiskies/the-classic-benromach/15-years-old
Buy Online: At time of writing, it was on offer at £48.95 from Whisky Exchange.