Review #711 - Benromach 2014 Cask Strength Batch 03
While we generally love the whisky that Benromach is making, there's always been one gripe with their core range: the relatively low bottling strength of 43% ABV for most of the bottles (at least the 10 year, 15 year, and 21 year single malts). Well, here's the answer to that: a Benromach whisky bottled at full cask strength, in this case 60.6% ABV.
This is the 2014 Cask Strength Batch 03, so the third batch of cask strength single malt that the distillery has bottled from their 2014 distillation vintage. They also tell us that this was bottled in 2024, and the minimum age of the whisky in the bottle is 9 years old; all of those 9 years were spent maturing in first fill casks, specifically a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.
In addition to the higher strength, which means this spirit should carry more flavor, Benromach also don't feel the need to chill filter this whisky, which should only improve the texture and flavor. So, how does Benromach taste at full volume?
Benromach 2014 Cask Strength Batch 03
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Price: USD 70 (2025)
Age Statement: 9 Years
Strength: 60.6% ABV
Cask Makeup: First fill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled 2014, bottled 2024; batch 03
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 6 months; bottles at 100%, 80%, and 60% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: A lot going on: some smoky peat, spices like anise, bitterness from amaro and cola, then sweetness from cherry and blackcurrant. There's an earthy, lightly funky side to this as well, even a savory side like ground beef; blood orange and raisin reinforce the fruit character. Time brings hints of caramel and licorice.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thick; there's a decent amount of peat smoke up front, but it's followed by waves of charcoal, mushrooms, wood spice, and licorice. Fruits slowly build, with cranberry, red wine, raisin, and grape... caramel adds a soft sweetness. Across our tastings, we found accents of cinnamon, root beer, chocolate, and musty/earthy notes.
Finish: Beef in a red wine reduction, funky mushrooms, more licorice, more earthy notes. It's quite savory in the finish, but we still get some butterscotch, raspberry, and prune juice which bring sweetness. Wood smoke and cinnamon linger in the aftertaste; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: Superb - this is an excellent single malt, an absolute powerhouse. Benromach's distillate is full of character, and finally we have a single malt from them that really showcases it. Despite the huge strength of 60.6% ABV, this really doesn't overwhelm the palate with spirity heat - the first fill casks have done a good job mellowing the spirity notes over those 9 years.
There's a huge amount of complexity in this relatively young whisky, too, thanks to the combination of the great distillate, the peat, and the multiple cask types. Sweet and spicy notes, savory and earthy tones, just about everything you could ask for other than a really mature oak note. Each session brings some new nuance, but there's a nice core complexion which is quite savory and spicy.
Value for this bottle is amazing, one of the highest that we've rated. We're not exaggerating when we say that this could be (in our opinion) the best way to spend $70 to $75 on Scotch whisky in the current market.
Our Average Rating: 8.7 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 8.41
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Benromach reviews:
Review #460 - Benromach 15 Year
Review #235 - Benromach 2010 Organic 5 Year
