Benriach Malting Season Scotch Whisky
Benriach Malting Season Scotch Whisky is the first expression in a century made entirely from barley malted on BenRiach's own historic floor maltings — one of only a handful of Scottish distilleries still floor-malting on site. Distilled 2 November 2012 from Concerto barley and double-cask matured in bourbon and virgin oak barrels, bottled at 48.7% ABV. An unpeated, cereal-forward single malt in a 750mL bottle. Order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 48.7%
- Size: 750mL
- Distilled: 2 November 2012 (first edition)
- Barley: Concerto, floor-malted on site
- Casks: Bourbon and virgin oak barrels (23 barrels, 6,672 bottles)
- Style: Unpeated, natural character
- Origin: Speyside, Scotland — The BenRiach (est. 1898)
Floor Maltings, Revived
Floor malting is slow, hands-on work — barley steeped, spread across the malting floor, turned by hand over several days, then kiln-dried — and BenRiach is one of two Speyside distilleries still doing it. Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie built Malting Season to let the Concerto barley's cereal character pull through, married to creamy bourbon and virgin oak maturation. For the peated side of the distillery, see the Benriach Smoke Season; the full Benriach range is here.
Tasting Notes
Barley-gold colour. Barley sugar, almond fudge, and poached orchard apple on the nose; smooth and rounded on the palate — vanilla and honeyed pear, with the lasting nuttiness of slowly kilned malt (official distillery notes, first edition).
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass to catch the malty nose, or with a drop of water. This is a whisky for slow sipping, not mixing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Malting Season different?
It is made entirely from barley malted on BenRiach's own historic floor maltings — the first such expression in a century.
Is it peated?
No — Malting Season is unpeated; the floor-malted cereal character is the point.
What is the ABV?
48.7% ABV (first edition, distilled 2012).
How old is it?
The first edition carries no age statement (spirit roughly 8–9 years); the second edition is explicitly 9 years at 48.9%.
A century-old craft in a modern bottle — buy Benriach Malting Season Scotch Whisky online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.