Benromach2009PeatSmoke(700mL)

<p>All smoke and no mirrors.</p><p><em>Duncan MacCallum</em> and <em>F. W. Brickmann</em> got together in <em>1898 </em>and founded <em>Benromach Distillery Company </em>with some damn unfortunate timing. Scotch Whisky was having a bit of a crisis and the pair went broke shortly after opening their doors in 1900. Ever since, the distillery has closed and re-opened several times as it changed ownership, faced world wars, and tried to modernize. In <em>1993</em>, they were purchased by <em>Gordon and MacPhail </em>— an independent bottler that was turning their cash-flow into production ownership, and notable single malts. The label was successfully relaunched once again, with an official ribbon-cutting by none other than <em>Prince Charles </em>in <em>2004</em>.</p><p>Cut to 2014, when the first single malt was released and brought with it the <em>accolades and awards</em> — including a <em>“Best Speyside Single Malt — 12 Years and Under”</em> at the World Whisky Awards in 2014. For that feat they had to beat Glenlivet, Macallan, Balvenie… as well as Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, and Aberlour… There are no less than <em>42 </em>Speyside single malt brands out there and this little gem emerged as <em>#1</em>. How’s that for a revival?</p><p>For the <em>2009 edition of their Peat Smoke </em>they upgraded the trademark Speyside single malt fruitiness with some <em>serious smoke</em>. It’s a small batch affair, as are most bottles coming from the decidedly low-volume distillery. This edition has <em>a tad less peat smoke</em> than its predecessor with phenol levels clocking in at <em>42ppm</em> (parts per million — for the smoke geeks out there). Oh, and we nearly forgot! It’s matured in first fill oak bourbon barrels. <em>Yes, please!</em></p>