BenRiach – Quarter Casks Peated (46%)

This is a peated Speyside single malt from BenRiach, distilled from peated malted barley and matured entirely in quarter casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill-filtered and with natural colour. Quarter casks are smaller than the usual size, so the spirit has more contact with the wood and takes on depth of aroma and flavour in a shorter time. The colour is a bright summer gold. The nose has waves of wood smoke and burning heather with ripe orchard fruit, peach, cinnamon sugar and a green note of fresh barley. On the palate, strong peat smoke meets green pear, nectarine, nutty oak, vanilla pod, white pepper and a splash of lemon, leading to a crisp, smoky finish.