This is the new BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks , launched in juni 2016, an expression distilled from peated malted barley and matured in tiny quarter casks .

These smaller casks (1/4th of a butt, around half of a hogshead) encourage greater interaction between the spirit and the oak. Younger whisky, quicker maturation – a concept that has been used by Laphroaig for many years now.

BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks (46%, OB 2016)

Nose: a slightly dry peatiness with lots of hay and ashy herbs rather than the medicinal Islay peat. A little gravel. Cereal notes. Underneath we find...