BENROMACH 2012 SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
CONTRATS: AIR DRIED OAK & KILN DRIED OAK
SPEYSIDE, SCOTLAND
Why Buy: You did compare-and-contrast in school, but this one’s a helluva lot more fun — especially if you’re a lover of Speyside single malt, and even more especially if you gravitate to the smoky stylings of the always-excellent Benromach, which has paired up these two bottlings for their growing legion of fans to contemplate differences and nuances as they savor the flat-out gorgeousness in every pour.
The Story: Benromach has a long and storied history, but the modern era began in 1993, when Gordon & McPhail, renowned for their expertise at aging and bottling, purchased the distillery and set its compass on a very particular destination: restoring the lost taste of Speyside whisky. This Contrast Range is a vital part of that vision, and has become a certifiable hit among collectors for the way it affords them a generous and exciting peek into the master distiller's world. To produce it, Benromach took the unorthodox step of aging its signature Speyside whisky two ways: one, in air-dried virgin oak barrels; the other, in virgin oak casks that were dried in the kiln.
Our Tasting Notes: To an untrained observer, aging the whisky in two different (but similar-seeming) barrels might sound like a relatively minor decision, unlikely to result in a satisfying pay-off for the drinker. In fact, though, the differences are striking, and the team at Benromach knows that the fun here is in settling in for a long comparative tasting with friends and swapping notes. We won't spoil the surprises that await, except to say that we were impressed by the tropical-but-not-cloying nose on these, the way the two bottles accentuate and also play against the smoke, the finishes that carry forth the complexity of the mid-palate, and, not least, the marvelously long legs in the glass.
ABV: 46% (92 proof).
Fun Fact: Benromach and Ben Nevis remain in the distinct minority among Scotch malt whisky distilleries for using brewer's yeast for their whiskies, which lends decidedly more character to the dram than distiller's yeast (but results, alas, in lower yield).
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured that your single malts will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2023 (December 21, 2023 - March 20, 2024). With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in IL, KS, MI, NC, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.
