Introduction
Today, we're reviewing the Benromach 10 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky—a scotch that, despite its regional designation, surprised us with its unexpected flavor profile. Benromach is a lesser-known but respected name in the Speyside region, producing single malts with a traditional touch. This 10-year-old expression is bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) and is aged in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks.
Speyside whiskies are typically known for their delicate, fruity, and floral character, often serving as an easy entry point for scotch newcomers. However, this particular bottle deviates from the norm, offering more smoke and peat than we expected.
This review is taken from our episode "Joker / Benromach 10 Year Single Malt Scotch." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: Bob, I am going to give you one of the best nosing notes of all time. This reminds me of Honey Smacks.
Bob: Oh wow. Those things were so good, but also made me feel poor every time I ate them. Like, Great Depression-era cereal.
Brad: Exactly! Along with the Honey Smacks, there’s a bunch of vanilla, thick cherry syrup, cranberry, and plum. It’s got some depth, but nothing overwhelming. A really solid nose. 7.5/10
Bob: I’m coming in a little lower at 7/10 because this nose started off with really bright orange and cinnamon notes, but then it shifted into something a little funkier. There’s some raw, yeasty dough and a strange wet balsa wood note that I can’t quite place. There’s also a subtle peat smoke here—definitely more than I expected from a Speyside. It’s intriguing, but I was hoping for something a bit more fruit-forward.
Taste
Brad: The palate is incredible. There’s plum, cacao, and even a slight Rice Krispie treat vibe—like a sugary, grainy sweetness. It’s simple but enjoyable. 8/10
Bob: Wow, this is way smokier than I expected. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a lightly peated Islay whisky. It’s got a vegetal, medicinal quality with an ashy, almost cigarette-like taste on the back end. But there’s also just enough sweetness to keep it from getting too bitter. I like it, but my expectations were totally different going in. I’ll give it 7.5/10.
Finish
Brad: The finish has oak, a bit of spice, and some vegetal, dilly notes. It falls off a little compared to the nose and palate but still holds up well. 7/10
Bob: I like the finish, but I don’t have a ton to say about it. It gets bitter toward the end, and the smoke almost turns into sourness. It’s a weird experience because it doesn’t fit neatly into the Speyside profile. I’m at 6.5/10.
Balance
Brad: The flavors work really well together. The smoke, the fruit, the sweetness—it all integrates nicely. I’ll give it a 7.5/10.
Bob: I’m at 7/10 because while the whisky itself isn’t disjointed, it also doesn’t feel like it knows what it wants to be. It’s sitting somewhere between Speyside and Islay, and that makes it feel a bit lost.
Value
Brad: This bottle is around $50 in the States, which is an eminently reasonable price for a 10-year-old single malt. 8.5/10.
Bob: I’m about to break my own scoring integrity here. Normally, I’d give this a 7/10 because I think the price is fair, but I just don’t personally enjoy it enough to recommend. That would put my final score at 35/50, which is where we start recommending bottles—but I don’t think I’d actually recommend this one. So I’m dropping my value score to 6/10 just to keep my total at 34/50.
Brad: You literally just said this could be a 9/10 value. And then you gave it a 6.
Bob: Them’s the breaks, dude.
Final Scores
Brad: 38.5/50
Bob: 34/50
Average: 36.25/50
Conclusion
Our final score lands this whisky in the soft recommend range. Brad is a clear buy on this bottle, while Bob is more hesitant. If you’re looking for a Speyside with unexpected smokiness and depth, this could be a great choice—especially at $50. If you’re expecting a more traditional Speyside experience with delicate fruit and florals, this might not be for you.
Try it at a bar first if you’re unsure, but if you like a little unexpected peat in your scotch, this could be a hidden gem.
