Speyside Distillery, Benriach, has unveiled its fourth and final edition of Malting Season, which is exclusively available at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which starts today, before going on to global release in the coming months.
The Fourth edition, the oldest in the collection and first in the series to include an age statement, is crafted entirely from floor malted concerto barley, hand selected by Master Blender, Rachel Barrie and aged for 10 years in first fill Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Benriach, said, “This fourth edition small batch release has a bottling strength of 47.9% ABV and is composed of 27 bourbon barrels and 4 oloroso sherry butts, distilled on 21st November 2012, 20th November 2013 and 19th December 2014. The fourth release is the most complex of all, with a richer, smoother and silkier mouthfeel with juicy baked peach and sweet apricot in creme-caramel enriched with cinnamon and almond biscotti.”
Benriach’s floor maltings form the historic lifeblood of the distillery, remaining in production for over 120 years. Mothballed from 1900-1965, Benriach’s floor maltings continued during this time, providing essential malt for nearby distilleries in Scotland’s most concentrated whisky region and preserving the craft for future generations.