Benromach Traditional Speyside Single Malt

$30+, 40%, Rating: 5.5, Scotch, Single Malt

Re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998, this distillery produces a variety of bottlings, of which the Traditional is the probably the youngest. And you can taste it. The absence of barrel taste makes me wonder if this qualifies as scotch, and the variety of other flavors (cream, smoke, citrus, flower) is a bit egregious for my taste. That said, the blend could be interesting for some, individual flavors aren’t too poignant, and the overall taste is mild. (Sorry for the low quality image. We’ll get a better one if we can find it.)

Straight

The blend of flavors is at first overshadowed by a dreadful dryness and bite. Add an ice cube, let it breathe a bit, and it takes the edge off just enough to present the predominantly smoky sweetness of this scotch. And if you really delve into the drink, there's enough going on to make it interesting. I definitely think $35 is steep, and again, I question its aging because there is not much cask flavor. No age label on the bottle should have been a dead giveaway...

Mixed

Mild enough to balance a coke or diet coke, and the citrus is nice, but again, if you want the cask tone, you probably won't get it. Bottom line, spend $10-$15 less on a regular whiskey for a similar effect, because most of the other subtle flavors get lost in the mix.

Price: $35.00

Worthy: 5.5/10