Benriach Unveils Shades of Smoke, a 31-Year-Old Whisky Crafted with Art

Benriach, a historic Speyside distillery, has released a new limited-edition whisky called Shades of Smoke. This 31-year-old single malt is the result of a collaboration with digital artist Stefano Contiero. The bottle carries a suggested retail price of $925 and is now available at select retailers, including Total Wine. Founded in the late 19th century, Benriach is known for producing both peated and unpeated whisky, aged in a variety of casks. The distillery’s master blender, Rachel Barrie, oversees the creation of its expressions, including this latest release.

Shades of Smoke was distilled in 1994 and offers a complex flavour profile. Tasting notes include treacle-peat, tropical fruit, apple, molasses, vanilla, lemon, orange, butterscotch, and plum.

Meanwhile, Brown-Forman, the parent company of Benriach, has temporarily halted production at its Slane Irish Whiskey distillery. The pause is expected to last for the foreseeable future. The new Benriach release combines decades of ageing with artistic collaboration. Available now, the whisky joins the distillery’s range of peated and unpeated expressions. The company has not yet announced further details on the Slane distillery’s production status.