The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had… Read More
The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had more than 270 customers when it closed unexpectedly, including Seattle’s Westland and Copperworks distilleries. We’ll talk with Copperworks co-founders Jason Perkins and Jeff Kanof this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with Kate Bernot, who’s been covering the story for Good Beer Hunting. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame gets eight new inductees, while Woodford Reserve is teaming up with Kentucky farmers to develop the state as a rye-producing region. We’ll have all the week’s whisky news, tasting notes for whiskies from the U.S., Japan, and India, and much more on this week’s WhiskyCast.
The Scotch Whisky industry is roaring along, setting new records for sales every year as the global demand for whisky continues to grow. The last… Read More
The Scotch Whisky industry is roaring along, setting new records for sales every year as the global demand for whisky continues to grow. The last “golden age” for Scotch Whisky is generally considered to be the late 1800’s, when distilleries flourished all over Scotland. That begs the question: are we in a new golden age for Scotch Whisky? Veteran whisky writers, historians, and consultants Charles Maclean and Ian Buxton take on that question and other key issues in an extended WhiskyCast In-Depth conversation this week.
In the news, a Pacific Northwest malting house has left distilleries and brewers in the lurch after suddenly closing this week, while Speyside Distillers is being questioned about the location of casks sold to investors more than 20 years ago.
The new Benriach Malting Season is a nod to the period of time (1900-1965) when the Benriach distillery was closed for distilling, but kept its floor malting up and running. During this time Benriach was mostly malting for its original namesake, Longmorn. Like other early distilleries created during the late 19th century, its founder, John […]
The new Benriach Malting Season is a nod to the period of time (1900-1965) when the Benriach distillery was closed for distilling, but kept its floor malting up and running. During this time Benriach was mostly malting for its original namesake, Longmorn. Like other early distilleries created during the late 19th century, its founder, John Duff, named the distillery after his existing distillery and Benriach was originally known as Longmorn #2.
The Pattison whisky crisis forced Benriach to close just 2 years after it had opened and after six and a half decades of serving as a floor malting facility, it was opened again and distilled for a while. Eventually, it was shut down again, but reopened in 2008 back to its “former glory”. There’s a lot more to Benriach’s history, but hopefully, this gives you a bit more on the history they’re referencing with this name.
Made from 100% Benriach floor-malted Concerto barley, the Malting Season is a unique new release from the Speyside distillery, which is what we’re really here to talk about: the liquid. So let’s get to drinkin’ and talk about the whisky in the glass instead of the whisky in the past.
Benriach Malting Season – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Style: Single Malt (Scotch) Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: Benriach Mash Bill: 100% Malted Concerto Barley Cask: ex-Bourbon, New Charred Oak Age: NAS (~8 years, distilled Nov 2, 2012) ABV: 48.7%
“Today, we honour tradition once a year during our spring ’Malting Season’, a special time when we create our own malted barley on site.” – BenRiach
Benriach Malting Season Tasting Notes
EYE
Pale straw
NOSE
Honied fruit, vanilla taffy, Banana Quik, malt and a touch spirity.
Not a whole lot going on here, it comes through super light and airy.
PALATE
Hay-like malt, Banana Quik, honey, dried fruit, nuts and vanilla taffy notes with a touch of spice and wax.
Heavier than the aroma but, again, quite light and airy. I’m just not getting a ton on the delivery and I have to really take my time.
FINISH
Medium -> Banana Quik, vanilla and wax fade to cinnamon-heavy spiced nuts.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a light, slightly watery, feel.
Benriach Malting Season – Overall Thoughts and Score
It’s a light, airy whisky, heading towards thin and watery. There doesn’t seem to be a ton of cask influence, or much of anything really, in this dram. It’s a good way to get closer to the core spirit of Benromach, which appears to be nice, but the light oak-based notes feel underdeveloped and underwhelming.
That underwhelming character stays as the whisky sits and noticeably doesn’t open with time, air, or even a bit of water. In fact, after a while, the only notes that continually stick out are the Banana Quik and cinnamon. Everything else just fades to the back and it feels closer to one-dimensional. I love the distillery, but I’m not a fan of this Benriach Malting Season.
SCORE: 2/5 (below average, flawed, not entirely enjoyable – C | 73-76)
*Disclosure: The sample for this Scotch review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Benriach Malting Season Review
$150
Summary
Light, airy, spirit, and a bit underwhelming. It’s not something I’d ever pick up again or even order at the bar.
