Benromach Distillery, has revealed the addition of two new limited-edition whiskies to its popular Contrasts series. This collection aims to offer unique spins on Benromach’s signature smoky style by experimenting with diverse and innovative maturation methods.
The two new offerings, Contrasts Air Dried Oak and Contrasts Kiln Dried Oak, were distilled in 2012 and bottled earlier this year. These whiskies highlight the subtle flavours and characteristics created by different techniques used in drying the wooden staves that constitute the casks.
Both whiskies have an alcohol by volume (ABV) content of 46% and offer a long-lasting smoky finish, but they present distinct flavour profiles. The first variant is made from oak that was air-dried for three years before toasting, which lends the whisky sweet vanilla fudge notes, followed by fresh peppermint and oak. The second variant is matured in oak that was air-dried for two years and then put in a kiln to speed up the drying process. This technique enhances the interaction between the spirit and wood, resulting in a whisky with a sweeter, more malted biscuit aroma, along with lemon barley sugar and mixed tropical fruit taste.
Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach said, “At Benromach, our aim is to always produce whisky by hand that has real, genuine character. Our Contrasts range allows us to experiment and explore new flavours.