Benromach 19 yo 1978/1998

Benromach 19 yo 1978/1998

Rare Malts, official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Copper rose
63.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roses, raisins, peanuts, bananas, caramel, violets, honey, salt, hints of chillies. With water, more delicate, honey notes become more pronounced, saltier, perhaps some blue cheese.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thick, loosens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, peanuts, honey, roses, violets, sea salt, chillies, hints of leather. With water, saltier, the floral notes are emphasised, leather and blue cheese appear.
Finish: Long. Warm, honey, peanuts, violets.

Comments:

Rare Malt, rare find. This is Benromach whisky distilled and bottled by Diageo while they owned it (and bottled when the distillery was silent). Benromach is of course an active distillery now. This whisky is quite subtle and delicious, salty with sweet floral notes. It opens up when water is added, producing quite an interesting flavour element, blue cheese. Is this rancio?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.