Country – Region: Scotland – Speyside
Distillery: BenRiach
Type: Single Malt
Age: 12
Cask: Bourbon, Sherry, Marsala
ABV: 46%
Proof: 92
Price: $65

Nose: Sweet earthy smoke, toasted marshmallow, toasted almond, orange zest

Palate: Honeycomb, apricot, toasted bread, cocoa, caramelized sugar

Finish: Candied orange. malt sweetness, subtle oak tannins and spices

BenRiach The Smoky Twelve is one of the new peated BenRiach expressions in the new core range release after BenRiach The Smoky Ten. Like the other 10 and 12-year-old bottles, this one is also triple cask matured, this time with bourbon, Sherry and Marsala casks. I used to enjoy the former peated expressions from the distillery. Let's see how this one will be tasting like.

How Does It Taste?

The nose has sweet earthy smoke with toasted marshmallow, toasted almond and orange zest. The palate starts off with honeycomb, apricot, toasted bread, cocoa and caramelized sugar. The finish offers candied orange with malt sweetness. Oak tannins have a slight impact to dry the finish with oak spices.

Verdict

I actually had high expectations from The Smoky Twelve, as I was looking for some more depth in the palate. Tasting the 10 and 12-year-old expressions together, I can say that The Smoky Ten has a thicker texture while The Smoky Twelve has a nose with darker flavors. The palate of the Twelve didn't offer what I was expecting.

Although if you like the feeling of toasted vanilla, you might really like this bottle as there are a few toasted flavors through the tasting.

You can find my reviews for the other whiskies in the core range: