BENROMACH Contrasts: Air Dried Oak Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl 46%

Benromach Contrasts: Air Dried Oak is a limited-edition Speyside single malt that explores the influence of air-dried virgin oak on Benromach’s lightly peated house style. Departing from the distillery’s usual sherry and bourbon casks, this release has been matured entirely in virgin oak casks that were air dried before being crafted into casks, allowing the spirit to develop intense notes of sweet vanilla, spice and toasted oak while still retaining Benromach’s signature malty core and gentle smoke. Bottled at 46% and non chill-filtered, it’s a bold, characterful whisky that showcases a different side of this small Forres distillery.

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Distillery: Benromach Distillery, Forres

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Maturation: This limited-edition release has been matured in air dried virgin oak casks for 10 years (distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2023).

Size: 70cl

Non chill-filtered

Limited Edition

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Toasted coconut, vanilla fudge and honeyed malt up front, followed by sweet sawdust, baking spices and light orchard fruits. Hints of nutmeg, clove and a wisp of gentle peat smoke sit beneath the oak.

Palate: Rich and creamy with flavours of toffee, oak spice and malted biscuit. Layers of poached pear, caramelised banana and toasted nuts develop, alongside charred oak, peppery warmth and a subtle smoky edge.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering sweet vanilla, drying oak spice, soft malt and delicate embers of smoke.

About the Distillery:

Benromach Distillery is a small, traditional Speyside distillery located in the town of Forres. Using classic, hands-on production methods — including a manually operated mash tun, slow distillation and a touch of peat in the malt — Benromach creates a subtly smoky, old-style Speyside spirit that stands apart from lighter, modern expressions. The distillery matures its whisky exclusively in first-fill casks, carefully selected to add depth, richness and balance. This combination of small scale, traditional techniques and a first-fill cask policy gives Benromach whiskies their distinctive, characterful and gently smoky profile.

Sláinte!