Whisky of the month June
BENROMACH
21YO
In Forres, on the edge of Speyside, Benromach does something quietly stubborn.
It makes whisky the traditional way.
Not polished into something too clean.
Not stripped of character.
Not designed to please everyone at once.
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Benromach is a family-owned distillery with an old-school approach, where experience, patience and a little smoke still matter.
The distillery was founded in 1898, and although Speyside is often known for fruit, sweetness and elegance,
Benromach brings something slightly different to the table.
A little more backbone.
A little more maturity.
A little more smoke in the shadows.
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And that is exactly why Benromach 21 Years is Whisky of the Month June.
This whisky doesn’t kick the door open, throw peat on the fire or shout at you.
It walks in slowly, well-dressed, carrying dried fruit, old oak, soft spice and that unmistakable Benromach wisp of smoke.
you dont rush drinking this dram, take it easy, It has already waited 21 years.
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Benromach 21 Years is matured in first-fill sherry and bourbon casks, bringing together sweet sherry depth, orange, red fruit, cracked pepper, oak and a soft smoky finish. Benromach describes it as natural colour, peated, and bottled at 43% ABV.
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BENROMACH
21YO
Mature, sherried, subtly smoky
Tasting notes
When I open it:
The first thing that rises from the glass is warm sherry sweetness.
Not sticky, not heavy, but mature and rounded.
There is orange peel, soft red fruit, dried apple and a little ginger warmth.
Behind that comes old oak.
Soft spice, maybe a touch of leather, and then that gentle Benromach smoke appears in the background.
Not campfire, not Islay, but more like your memory of the smoke in a well-used whisky warehouse.
When I taste it:
The arrival is soft, rich and awfully nicely balanced.
There is dried fruit, dark honey, orange marmalade and a little baked apple.,
Then the spice starts to build, cracked black pepper, ginger, cinnamon and a touch of cocoa.
The sherry gives it warmth,
the bourbon casks give it structure,
the smoke gives it character.
And this is where Benromach becomes interesting.
Because the smoke does not dominate the whisky. It simply sits underneath the fruit and oak, keeping everything grounded.
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A mature Speyside whisky with a slightly dirty edge.
And I mean that as a compliment.
When I swallow it:
The finish is long, warming and elegant.
Oak spice first, followed by citrus, soft smoke and the dry sherry.
There is still fruit there, but it becomes darker and calmer.
Orange peel, old wood, a little tobacco, and then a final touch of smoke.
It fades slowly, which is exactly what you want from a whisky of this age, being Memorable.
Mouthfeel
Silky, rounded and mature.
It has a full enough body to carry the age and cask influence, but it never becomes heavy.
The texture is polished, almost old-fashioned in the best possible way.
Soft on arrival, structured in the middle, dry and warming at the end.
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Gin.whis notes
Benromach 21 Years is not a whisky i would rush.
This is not the dram you pour while scrolling, cooking, answering messages or writing a website text.
This one deserves my Chesterfield.
A quiet evening.
Maybe a slightly too serious glass. And preferably nobody asking, “is it smoky?”
Because yes, it is, but gently and that is the charm here, but try and expalin that.
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It has that slightly traditional Benromach feel, where Speyside elegance meets a soft smoky backbone.
It is rich, but not overdone.
Mature, but not tired.
Sherried, but not a sherry bomb.
Smoky, but not ashtray
And that makes it a beautiful balanced choice for June.
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Because June evenings can be long. The light stays late, the air cools slowly,
and a whisky like this fits that exact moment when the day is almost finished, but not quite ready to leave.
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Enjoy it with:
Aged hard cheese, Comté, Manchego or mature Gouda.
Dark chocolate, preferably 70% or higher.
A good book and no plans for the next few hours.
I look forward to have a few more of of this 21 in June
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Origin: Forres, Speyside, Scotland
Distillery: Benromach
Style: Rich, sherried, subtly smoky
ABV: 43%
​Cask Finish: First-fill bourbon and sherry casks
Age Statement: 21 years old
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