BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%

Jamaican rum in a Scottish cask is not an obvious combination, which is probably why it works. The rum wood brings a tropical sweetness that meets the peat smoke somewhere neither of them expected to end up.

The expert's description

BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 years is a Single Speyside Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks, Jamaican rum casks and virgin oak and bottled at 46 %.

The bottling uses the peated spirit of the distillery, made only in defined periods each year. Three cask types are involved: bourbon gives vanilla, Jamaican rum adds tropical fruit and sweetness, and virgin oak lays spice and structure on top.

The combination of smoke and rum wood is rare in Scotch whisky and makes the bottling an obvious way in for anyone wanting to try peated malt without starting on the heaviest Islay bottles. The smoke reads aromatic rather than medicinal.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh fruit, honey and toasted oak with an aromatic note of smoke on top.

Palate

Fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and toasted oak. The rum casks give a tropical edge that rounds the smoke off.

Finish

Medium and warm with smoke, vanilla and a last touch of sweetness.

Specifications

Name: BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 år
Distillery: BenRiach
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, Jamaican rum casks and virgin oak
Edition: The Smoky Ten 10 år
EAN no.: 5060399687300

Flavour profile

Smoky · Fruity · Sweet · Tropical · Spiced

Did you know?

Jamaican rum is known for its powerful esters, the aroma compounds that give banana and pineapple. The casks carry part of that character into the whisky, which is why rum wood rarely goes unnoticed in a composition.

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Frequently asked questions about BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 år

How smoky is it?

Moderate. The smoke is clear but aromatic and sweet rather than medicinal, and the rum casks round it off further. It is intended as a way into peated whisky.

What do Jamaican rum casks do to whisky?

They add tropical fruit, especially banana and pineapple, plus a sweetness different from sherry. Jamaican rum carries powerful aroma compounds that the casks pass on.

How does it differ from The Original Ten?

The smoke and the casks. Original Ten is unpeated with sherry in the composition, while Smoky Ten uses peated spirit and rum casks instead. Same age, two entirely different whiskies.

Is there peated whisky in Speyside?

It is rare, but BenRiach is one of the distilleries in the region making peated spirit as a fixed part of the year.

Does it need water?

At 46 per cent it is ready to drink. Pour it into a whisky glass and give it five minutes, so the smoke settles and the fruit comes forward.

What does it pair with?

Grilled meat or smoked fish. The sweetness from the rum casks also lets it work with a dessert built on caramel or banana.