This bottle came my way thanks a friend’s annual sojourn to Taiwan. If you have had any of these mature Benromach from the modern incarnation of the distillery, then you know exactly why they are so highly prized. I reviewed this along with my buddies at maltrunners.com and you can check out the rest of the reviews from collective through the link. The group reviews we have done are some of my absolute favorites.

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Whisky: Benromach 20 Year (2003) Cask 466

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 56.9%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 20 Years (Distilled 20 June 2003, Bottled 3 Nov. 2023)

Notes: Dusty roads and dry grass led the way to the orchard. Past the old wooden farmhouse with its hints of cigar box and tobacco, stood rows of apple trees lined with wooden boxes. A touch of straw and pepper appeared as I drew closer— the apples carefully packed into straw. There was little in the way of fresh cut fruit, just loads of autumn, a rumbling tractor engine, and tonka bean. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was very autumnal, though cleaner than the aroma. Plenty of hay bales, fallen leaves, apples, wispy smoke, and dry earth opened the affair before taking a turn toward crisp cut apples and pears. A touch of citrus popped with bubbly butter, brown sugar, and vanilla burn— we were prepping orchard fruit crumbles to enjoy on a fall picnic. The finish was long and a bit peppery with citrus, earth, and dry grass.

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Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Autumn Picnic in Stardew Valley

Conclusion: These mature Benromach are such wonderful beasts and I cannot wait to see what else Gordon & MacPhail have waiting in the wings from the distillery. While Cask 371, which I reviewed last year, had favorable reviews online and comparisons to Brora, I can see those even more here. Neither has the sort of waxiness that drive some Brora and Clynelish fanatics wild, but this had more of those slightly funky farm and orchard elements with an old-fashioned dirtiness to the aroma. The palate was more straightforward and clean, but not without some lovely depth. Overall, wonderful whisky— I should really be keeping a closer eye on Benromach.