BenRiach The Smoky Twelve

BenRiach Distillery is located in the region Speyside in Scotland.

Most of the whiskies from BenRiach are unpeated. But six weeks each year the distillery produces peated whisky, normally during September and October. The Smoky Twelve is part of their core range. It is bottled at 46 ABV. Here is what they say about it:

The Smoky Twelve is the perfect marriage of fruit, malt, oak and rich layers of smoke. 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. The whisky from each cask is then expertly married together to create a smooth, creamy single malt, multilayered with flavours of ripened fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and warming oak spice.

This whisky is available in Norway at NOK 769,90.

A bit closed on the nose, not very rich. Oaky and dusty. Marshmallows and candy sweetness. Orange and chocolate. Rich fruitiness on the palate. Sherry notes with lots of apricots. A bit sharp. Burnt caramel. The finish is dry and salty and black pepper. Ginger. Oily. The smoke appears again.

My score: nose 20 / taste 21 / finish 21 / balance 21 = 83

-Tone