First Impressions
Benromach 10 — from one of Speyside's smallest distilleries near Forres in Moray. Just a single pair of stills run by a small team. The distillery closed in 1983 and sat silent until Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland's most respected independent bottler, purchased it in 1993 and restored it from the ground up.
The Royal Reopening
Prince Charles officially reopened Benromach on 15 October 1998 — a cask signed by Prince Charles is still on display. The first new-make spirit was bottled in 2004. Crucially, Benromach is designed to reflect pre-1960s Speyside character, when light peat was common. Most modern Speysiders have abandoned peat, but Benromach keeps the tradition alive.
Tasting
Unusual for Speyside — barbecue smoke and orange peel on the nose with beeswax. The palate is full-bodied and oily with gentle peat smoke, figs, leather, and tobacco. This is an old-fashioned Speysider. The finish brings honey, cigar tobacco, and lingering smoke. Gold at the 2014 World Whisky Awards.
The Verdict
Benromach 10 earns a 7.5 — one of the best Speyside malts under £40. The light peat gives it dimension that most modern Speysiders lack, and Gordon & MacPhail's expertise in cask selection is evident. A quiet rebel in Speyside's sea of unpeated sweetness.
