Benromach 25

Finally back at the Auld Alliance again. Such a crazy, crazy week...Something to sooth the nerves here...

Benromach 25 (43% abv)

Nose - Lots of pine and resin. Vanilla, oak, wood varnish, pencil shavings, then once the wood fades, lots of fruits. Apples, pears, peaches, maybe even a bit of papaya. All dipped in honey.

Palate - More of the same, but laced with a touch of spices. The fruits are really complex, coming in layers after layer of rich, honeyed fruity goodness. Subtle too, with the fruits, wood and spice so well integrated that it's a complete fruit salad in every sip. A hint of leather adds complexity.

Finish - A little short here. Oak, a touch of ginger, honey...that's it.

Overall - Classy dram, really. Great stuff from Benromach. Perhaps lacking a bit of...structure. In that sense, the experience of this dram reminded me of Redbreast 12, though the fruits are subtler and less punchy than the Irish one. Good dram, but perhaps not big, rich, impactful enough to be top drawer. Or maybe I just tend to like whiskies with particular stand-out traits.