This is the first time Benromach Distillery has used Cara Gold malted barley, a low-colour roasted caramel malt more commonly found in breweries. This malt produces rich fruity and toffee flavours. Combined with the distillery’s standard lightly peated malt, the distillery says it delivers a new twist on the subtle smokiness it is known for.
Laid down in 2010 before being bottled in 2022, this 11-year-old expression is natural in colour and non-chill-filtered. It has been matured exclusively in first-fill bourbon barrels, which the distillery says has created passionfruit, lychee and lime aromas complemented by a hint of malted biscuit; smooth, sweet flavours of pineapple, apricot and a subtle pepperiness; and a vibrant, fruity and sweet-smoke finish.
Keith Cruickshank, distillery manager at Benromach, commented, “We love to get creative with our small batch vintage expressions, and our Contrasts range allows us to do this. Unlike [in] any of our other expressions, we have used Cara Gold malt – this is a type of malted barley you would usually find in a brewery rather than a distillery, and it has produced a beautiful and unique single malt…”
Benromach Cara Gold (RRP £49.99) is available on the Benromach website and at selected retailers worldwide.