The Benromach 12 Years Old, unveiled on 3 September 2026, joins the distillery’s core range alongside the 10, 15 and 21 Years Old: 46%, first-fill sherry casks only, £45. The 10 Years Old stays in the range.

Casks and peat

The 10 is matured in first-fill sherry and bourbon casks; the 12 drops the bourbon and spends all its years in sherry. The malt is the same as ever, peated to around 10-12 PPM: not much by Islay standards, but enough to set Benromach apart in Speyside, where most distilleries stopped using peat from the 1960s onwards. Murdo Mackenzie, manager of the Forres distillery, says the 12 keeps “our distinctive subtly smoky character”.

Tasting notes

The official notes describe a nose of spiced cinnamon buns and stewed raisins, then ginger, butterscotch, citrus and cocoa with soft smoke. The palate brings rich fruitcake, orange and raspberry, cracked pepper, charred oak and a little more smoke. The finish is medium and spicy, with blackcurrant, a hint of menthol and a last touch of smoke.

Price and availability

The 12 Years Old costs £45 on the distillery website, at the visitor centre, from specialist retailers and in selected international markets. In Italy, as of 17 September 2026, it is not on sale yet: Amazon and the shops that carry Benromach list the 10 Years Old, not the 12.

For anyone who knows the Benromach 10, the change is all in the casks: more sherry, the same light peat.