Benromach takes top prize in Hong Kong competition 

Benromach, creators of the classic Speyside Single Malt scotch whisky, have won one of Asia’s most prized accolades.

Benromach 100° Proof won the award for Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 15 Years and Under at this year’s Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.

The award was announced last week at a gala dinner to begin the 2015 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, one of the premier events in the Asian drinks industry.

Benromach’s flagship 10 Years Old also picked up a gold award in the competition, bringing its tally of gold awards this year so far to four.  The classic Speyside whisky, hand-crafted by just three distillers, secured “Big Gold” and the accolade of Spirit of the Year at the 2015 International Spirits Awards in Germany, a gold medal in the Scotch Whisky Masters competition run by the Spirits Business Magazine, and a gold medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition earlier this year.

Benromach 100° Proof is bottled at 57% vol with the classic Benromach style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies of the pre-1960s.  It is an intense and richly complex whisky with sherry kicks, stewed fruit, beeswax polish, vanilla pods and delicate smoke.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “Benromach continues to grow around the world and we’re delighted to be recognised by our industry peers. Our focus is on making our whisky the time honoured way and Benromach100° Proof very much reflects the way things used to be done, when the proof system was used to describe whiskies bottled at a higher strength.”

The Benromach Distillery Company Ltd produces a range of award winning expressions including Benromach 10 Years Old, Benromach Organic and Benromach Peat Smoke.

Sales of Benromach have grown rapidly and the whisky is now exported to more than 30 countries around the world.

Notes  

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when leading whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five year period before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies pre-1960s.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous malt whisky trail.

Benromach 100° Proof

Benromach 100° Proof is a 10 Years Old single malt whisky with a distinctive golden amber colour. Sherry aromas lead, followed by stewed apple, pear and vanilla, with toasted malt aromas complementing an underlying menthol edge. Notes of cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry lead on the tongue, with hints of orange peel and milk chocolate, combined with a delicate smoky finish.

Benromach 10 Years Old

Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least 10 years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

What is proof measurement?

The old measure of spirit strength – the proof – followed a tradition established when sceptical sailors, who wanted to ensure their rum rations had not been watered down, mixed spirit with gunpowder. If the mixture ignited, then its strength was “proved” and in Great Britain this was described as 100 degrees proof (100°), a value still used as the British definition, although the gunpowder test had been replaced by a gravity test. 100 degrees proof (100°) in the UK is equivalent to 57% alc/vol.