Category: Smoke

Benriach Smoke Season is the release-sister to the Malting Season and like that release, its name is a nod to the history of the distillery itself. Back in ye-olden days of whisky production, HVAC systems didn’t exist, so when barley was dried, to halt the malting process, fire and smoke were employed. Peated whisky was common all across Scotland and not the perceived domain of Islay like it is (marketed) today.

From Campbeltown to Speyside, Highlands and the Islands, peat is used regularly to create that smoky profile folks love. Though mainland peat is different from Islay or coastal peat because it’s made of different plant matter and hasn’t had centuries of saltwater exposure during its creation. It’s noticeably drier, woody and more BBQ-like. This is why in the pantheon of peat, Bruichladdich sticks out on Islay (they get mainland peated barley).

Returning to Benriach, in the late 60s, when the distillery revived, they started making peated whisky at a dedicated time in the year. Similar to how Tobermory does their peated run for Ledaig at the end of a “distilling season” before they shut down to clean everything. Doing these runs of peated whisky is what they’re referencing with Smoke Season.

Makes sense, nothing too nutty in the marketing. Now, let’s turn our attention to the whisky, get to drinkin’ and give this Scotch a deep dive.

Benriach Smoke Season – Details and Tasting Notes

Whisky Details

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Speyside, Scotland

Distiller: Benriach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, New Charred Oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 52.8%

Natural Color

Price: $75*

Related Whiskies

BenRiach The Smoky Ten
BenRiach Smoky Twelve
BenRiach Curiositas Peated Malt 10 Years
BenRiach Septendecim
BenRiach Peated Oloroso Single Barrel

Benriach Smoke Season Tasting Notes

EYE
Honey

NOSE
Smoke, orchard fruit, minerality (spirity), cinnamon pastry, malty and a touch of honey and baseball card bubblegum.

One part spirity, one party smoky, one part sweet and one part nostalgic. Weird, but I dig what’s happening.

PALATE
Smoke, toffee, minerality, oak, honey graham, vanilla taffy and a bit of churro, wax and honied malty sweetness.

Bolder smoky delivery with less of the “spirity” essence and subtle richness.

FINISH
Med-long -> Smoke, spice, toffee and dried fruit fade to a waxy smoked vanilla.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a slightly oily feel.

Benriach Smoke Season – Overall Thoughts and Score

This is an expressive whisky, especially compared to the Malting Season, and I’m liking this for several reasons. Though mainly because this whisky makes me think of all kinds of odd and interesting notes. I don’t think I’ve used baseball card bubblegum or churro till today, but those are the notes this reminds me of. But there’s also an aspect to it that I can’t quite put my finger on

There’s something in this Benriach Smoke Season that reminds me of my childhood. Like the baseball gum and churro notes, it’s something rooted in my youth while living in rural Utah. But I can’t quite summon the memory. A specific candy or dessert I can remember eating in a restaurant or store when I was young, but I can’t remember exactly what it was or where I was. The scene plays, but the details are hazy. Anyway, this is a good, and weirdly nostalgic (for me), whisky.

SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out – B- | 80-82)

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