Benromach – Contrasts: Wine Finish Côte-Rôtie Cask (70cl, 46%)

This Benromach is a Speyside single malt from the distillery's Contrasts series, issued as a limited edition. It was first matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, then finished in Côte-Rôtie wine casks from the northern Rhône Valley in France. It is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and natural in colour. The nose brings ripe red berries, raspberry compote and black cherries with floral notes, vanilla, toasted oak, black pepper and a delicate peat smoke. The palate shows juicy berries, dark cherries and plum preserve with vanilla, milk chocolate and baking spices, plus a little earthy smoke. The finish is long and gently warming, with red fruit, sweet spice, toasted oak and soft smoke.