Speysider with all the heritage and wood-smarts to boot.   
 
Benromach started in 1898… smack dab in the middle of the Great Scotch Whisky Depression. After a few years of floundering, they pulled themselves up by their collective kilts and hit full steam by 1911. The facility changed hands a few times to mixed success. But in 1993, Gordon and MacPhail purchased the site and started refurbishing things in 1997.

They officially reopened —with a ceremony conducted by Prince Charles, no less — on their 100th anniversary in 1998, and the first “new” bottling was issued in 2004. Today they produce a wide range of Whiskies of various wood and aging combinations, all the way up to a 55-year old classic. The water comes from Chapelton Springs in the Romach Hills above the site. A genuine Cinderella Story that would bring a tear to the eye of any Whisky-lover.   
 
Time to brag. Benromach 10YO was voted the “Best Speyside single malt - 12 YO and under” at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014. Consider for a minute... they beat Glenlivet, they beat Macallan, they beat Balvenie… and Glenfiddich, and Glenfarclas, and Aberlour… There are no less than 42 Speyside Single Malt brands out there and this little gem emerged as #1.   
 
This Whisky is chock-full of love — more than the majority of 10 YO malts. 80% of the Spirit is aged in Bourbon barrels, and 20% in Sherry hogsheads… and that’s just for the first nine years. Then it is transferred to first fill Oloroso Sherry cask to finish for the last full year. That, my friends, is an uncompromising attention to detail that is seriously hard to find at this price point.

Get a taste of this golden wonder now because I can hear Uncle Flaviar on the phone buying a case for himself and you do not want to miss out.   

Benromach 10-Year-Old guided tasting: Brad Japhe takes us on a tasting adventure through the Whiskeyverse of Advent Calendar 2021.