Benriach Malting Season Scotch Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

The second in the new Benriach “Season” series whiskies is Malting Season, so named because Benriach is one of just seven Scottish distilleries still engaged in on-site, in-house floor malting. Indeed, Benriach itself only resumed the practice in 2012. For this particular single malt, the wort was made using Concerto barley, specifically chosen by Master Blender Rachel Barrie for the purpose. This first installment of the series drew on 23 casks, both ex-bourbon barrels and new oak, and the single malt was bottled at 48.7% ABV. I have seen a reliable report a that this is a 9 year old whisky, but that doesn’t come directly or from an official source.

The Scotch
Malting Season has the look of white wine, and a nose smacking of green apples and pears, drizzled with honey and vanilla, and served in a field of dry grass. When I took a sip, that dry grass becomes dry wood, couples itself onto a dollop of spiciness, and pole-vaults right over the sweet aspects of the malt to take the foreground. That sweet side is now firmly on the bottom, becoming the foundation; the green apples are now a baked apple dish, with brown sugar and lemon juice stirred in. The finish turns decidedly dry and oaky, but mildly so.

The Price
The first production run for Benriach Malting Season yielded 6,672 bottles, one of which should run you $140 to $150.