The Benriach Distillery has released a new handcrafted whiskey- Benriach Malting Season. This rich spirit is one of a kind to be produced entirely using barley malt from the Speyside distillery’s historic floor maltings. The traditional methods dating back to the earliest days of the distillery.
The distilling process
To create the whisky, barley was steeped in water before being spread across the Benriach’s historic malting floor room. It was then turned by hand over several days to help the barley to reach optimum germination. The malting team then decides when the barley is ready to be transferred to the kiln to be dried. The distilled spirit is double-cask-matured in Bourbon and virgin oak barrels, to bring out the rich, creamy, smooth, and malty texture.
“Passed from distiller to distiller throughout the generations, the floor malting process keeps a traditional part of the whisky-making process alive with Benriach being one of only seven distilleries in Scotland to continue the practice of floor malting. Distilling spirit from barley malted here on site is a true labor of love and something we are passionate about keeping alive here at Benriach as an ode to our creative whisky-making heritage.”
Stewart Buchanan, Global Brand Ambassador at Benriach, commented in about-drinks
The spirit was distilled on 2 November 2012. Only 6,672 bottles of the first batch have been made from 23 barrels.
“At Benriach, we never stop exploring how fruit, oak, and barley flavors intertwine and mature in our broad range of eclectic casks. The unique process behind Malting Season allows the cereal flavor from the concerto barley to pull through and when married with the creamy, wholesome flavor from being two-cask-matured in Bourbon and virgin oak barrels, creates a truly unique expression.”
Rachel Barrie, master blender at Benriach Distillery
Tasting Notes
- Aroma– Richness of barley sugar, almond fudge, and poached orchard apple
- Palate– Smooth, rounded flavors of vanilla and honeyed pear, with nuttiness. Malty flavors combined with creamy barley sweetness on the palate.
- Colour– Gold
- ABV-48.7% ABV, 97.4 Proof
- Bottled at 750 ml.
Benriach Malting Season will be available in the US from October 2021, priced at RRP £99 (US$138).
About Benriach Distillery
The Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from the Benriach distillery with a unique whisky-making heritage. John Duff, the founder built the distillery in 1898. John decided that the best place to build his new distillery would be on a small hill, or ‘Ben’ at the site of the old ‘Riach’ farm, in the north of Speyside. Thus, Benriach was born. Benriach 1898 was released for the first time as a 10-year-old Single Malt in 1994.
The tradition of distilling three styles of whisky; classic unpeated, Highland peated, and triple distilled, together with an eclectic selection of casks from around the world, allows the whisky makers to explore the full flavor possibilities of Single Malt, creating some of the richest, most multi-layered whiskies in Speyside. For each new edition of Malting Season, Master Blender Rachel Barrie, will carefully select the type of barley and bottling strength, making each annual edition a truly unique expression in its own right.
Indulge in this traditional, aged, and rich Benriach Malting Season whisky when it becomes available near you. Also, the award-winning distillery has a wholesome range of spirits for you to choose from.