Benriach Smoky Oloroso Butt 28 Years (Cask Edition) is a long-aged peated Speyside single malt where time, sherry wood and gentle peat smoke come together in a remarkably cohesive style. At 28 years of maturation and bottled at 48.1% ABV, it has enough strength to carry the depth of Oloroso sherry influence, yet remains refined—letting the distillery’s elegant spirit and the complexity of age take the lead.
The producer: Benriach (Speyside)
Benriach is known for its versatility and its cask-driven approach. Unlike many Speyside neighbours, Benriach has long produced both unpeated and peated spirit. The house character often shows orchard fruit, honeyed malt and soft spice, and in the “Smoky” style the peat tends to feel rounded and malty rather than medicinal—adding structure and depth without overpowering the whisky.
Why an Oloroso butt matters
An Oloroso butt is a large sherry cask (often around 500 litres), which can encourage slower, deeper maturation and a beautifully layered integration. Oloroso typically brings:
roasted nuts, dark caramel and cocoa
dried fruits (raisins, figs, dates)
warming spice and a dry, wine-like oak grip
With 28 years in wood, the sherry influence becomes more polished and seamless—less about sharp edges, more about depth and harmony.
Tasting profile
Nose: Nutty sherry, dried figs and raisins, orange peel, toffee and dark chocolate, with a soft ember-like smoke in the background. Palate: Silky and full—Oloroso depth with cocoa and dark fruit, roasted nuts and warming spice, balanced by steady yet elegant peat smoke. Finish: Long and warming, with cocoa, spice, polished oak and a lingering, sophisticated smoky thread.
