From the Speyside distillery BenRiach, now under independent ownership, comes a minor rarity; peated Speysider. The nose is very peated with a sharp metallic background (think of hot stainless steel) along with a very slight damp cardboard (which quite quickly vanishes). There is also some sweetness, honey, rich fruits, oak however there is an over whelming presence of peat/coal smoke. With water there is an increase on the malt character and the peat smoke changes to become enhanced coal smoke. And think of a road being freshly paved. The taste is strongly peat smoked followed by banana, sweet fruit and creosote, possibly a hint of rose. With water it is some what tamed and the sweetness and peat smoke are well integrated, very nice. The finish is very, very peated and very sweet, honey, fruit etcetera with some oak and aspartame dryness often associated with dry woody oaky notes. Coal smoke abounds and carries on forever. LONG. Peat heads will love this however it’s not an Islay.

No evidence of the Jamaican Rum but over all it works well.

C$72

Score 84 Points

Visit BenRiach Distillery at http://www.benriachdistillery.co.uk/