Benromach – Contrasts Peat Smoke (70cl, 46%)

This is a Speyside single malt from Benromach's Contrasts series, which looks at flavour profiles that depart from the distillery's usual lightly peated style. It is made in small batches from heavily peated Scottish barley and matured only in first-fill bourbon casks. Distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2024 at 46%, it is nine years old. It is natural colour and non-chill-filtered, and comes in a 70cl bottle. The nose has vanilla, lemon sherbet, apricot and light wood smoke. On the palate come poached apple and pear, cinder toffee, spice, menthol and anise, with balanced peat smoke. The finish is medium-long, with caramel, green bell pepper and soft smoke.