BENRIACH 10-year-old 2010 Heavily Peated Hid. 52,2%

Nose: Smoky, dried plums, hint of varnish.

Palate: Creamy, roasted chestnuts, dried fruits.

Finish: Long and spicy.

THE BRAND

Benriach means "the eroded hill" in Gaelic. Located in the heart of Speyside, Scotland, the distillery was built by John Duff in 1898. BenRiach has all the traditional charm of a Speyside distillery. Like many Scottish distilleries, it has had a chequered history and was closed for 65 years.

BenRiach's true rebirth came in 2004 and has continued to capture the interest of distillers around the world ever since.

Equipped with four stills, the distillery produces three types of whiskies. BenRiach distinguishes itself by practicing double distillation as well as triple distillation. Unusual for a Speyside distillery, BenRiach whiskies are distilled from unpeated and peated malted barley and the distillery is one of the few in Scotland to have its own malting area. BenRiach is not only respectful of tradition, it is also forward-looking. With its adventurous spirit, it is on the way to reinventing the Speyside single malt style under the leadership of its master distiller, Rachel Barrie.

THE BOTTLER

HIDDEN SPIRITS is a young Italian independent bottler. The "hidden spirit" of its founder Andrea Ferrari is reflected in each of his selections. Extremely rigorous in his choices, he has become undisputed and appreciated by wine lovers.