Ben Nevis 10yo 2015/2025

Ben Nevis 10yo 2015/2025

Single Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber copper
54.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, smoke, rubber bands, bacon, fresh baked bread, cinnamon, cinder toffee. With water, pear drops, cinder toffee, bacon, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Rubber bands, raisins, fresh baked bread, orange peel, cinder toffee, hints of nutmeg. With water, raisins, cinder toffee, cream, smoke. 
Finish: Long. Golden syrup, orange peel, raisins, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Quite a smoky sulphurous dram, but it’s paired with sweet orange peel notes, lots of raisins and bread. Water brings out even more smokiness, with the same long sweet finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2005/2021

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2005/2021

Roslin Distillers
Single malt - West Highlands
Light copper 
50.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Shortbread, aluminium foil, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, butterscotch. With water, sandalwood, vanilla, butterscotch, shortbread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butterscotch, malted grains, sandalwood, vanilla, shortcrust pastry, white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Shortcrust pastry, vanilla, white pepper, butterscotch, shortbread. 

Comments: 

Vanilla, pastry, butter, lots of delicious things that appeal, but it doesn’t have the fruity intensity of the usual Ben Nevises. Water brings some fruit to the fore, but it’s still unusually buttery. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ben Nevis 10yo 2012/2023

Ben Nevis 10yo 2012/2023

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - West Highlands
Chinese tea
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, cinnamon, cinder toffee, brown sugar, lemon zest, vanilla. With water, magic marker, pears, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apple juice, cinnamon, shortcrust pastry, cinder toffee, black tea, pears, raisins, hints of red wine. With water, cinder toffee, pears, red wine, vanilla. 
Finish: Long. Pears, apple juice, black tea, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 1728. An apple pie of a whisky, tangy and hot on the tongue, but with plenty of apply flavour and spice. The red wine finish is quite light, some tannins appear if you add water, but it’s gentle.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 9yo 2012/2021

Ben Nevis 9yo 2012/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - West Highlands
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Starfruit, vanilla ice cream, malted grains, jasmine, pear drops, icing sugar, hints of blueberries. With water, pear drops, burnt sugar, grapefruit, hops. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Starfruit, vanilla ice cream, jasmine, lemon zest, grapefruit, pear drops, burnt sugar, hops. With water, pear drops, starfruit, hops. 

Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, blueberries, pear drops, hops. 

Comments: 

Lovely and floral Ben Nevis. It’s intense and bright. The Cromarty beer cask finish adds additional citrus and hops notes. A fine example of what cask finishing can bring to a whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 78.43 (Ben Nevis 10yo 2010/2021)

SMWS 78.43 (Ben Nevis 10yo 2010/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Honey gold 
61.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, bananas, honey, sea salt, vanilla, red chillies, hibiscus, hints of green tea. With water, lemon sweets, honey, sea salt, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, vanilla, hibiscus, barley sugar, bananas, hints of pineapples. With water, honey, lemon sweets, vanilla, barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, bananas, hibiscus, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

A floral, slightly tannic Ben Nevis. Not as fruity as some, this whisky is quite delicate, but laden with sweet flowers. Some slight saltiness brings to mind lemon sweets, particularly with water.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Buttercups
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, salt caramel, tyre rubber, black tea, pears, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Cream, fresh baked bread, brown paper, honey, pears, dish soap, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. Dish soap, tyre rubber, fresh baked bread, green tea. 

Comments: 

A promising, if slightly sulphurous nose, lots of sweet fruit and fragrant tannins. However it morphs into slightly bready, soapy fruit. It’s a little disappointing. Ben Nevis can be hit or miss for me, sadly this one misses a little.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 15yo

Ben Nevis 15yo

WhiskySponge, Decadent Drinks
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Green gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream, peaches, strawberries, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Cream, yoghurt, black tea, peaches, lemon juice, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, lemon juice, white pepper, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite a straightforward Ben Nevis, lactic and fruity, but not very sweet. Not too complex, but it’s got a fair bit of citrus and spice. Nice one from WhiskySponge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 25yo 1996/2021

Ben Nevis 25yo 1996/2021

Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Dark amber 
47.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla, yoghurt, rum and raisin ice cream, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried apricots, rose water, vanilla, dark chocolate, hints of coffee, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, raisins, vanilla, coffee. 

Comments: 

Cask ref 20. This whisky was hard to score. On one hand it is complex and has quite an intense flavour profile, plenty of dried fruits and floral fragrance. On the other the flavours aren’t that well defined, and I had to work quite hard to find that Ben Nevis character. In the end I came down on ‘it’s nice’ :).

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 24yo 1997/2021

Ben Nevis 24yo 1997/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Western Highlands
Golden, hints of green 
43.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, white grapes, yoghurt, greengages, toffee, hints of pine nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, greengages, green apples, toffee, cream, hints of white chocolate, hints of pine nuts. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, green apples, yoghurt, cream, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

This tastes green, lots of tart, slightly herbaceous fruit, allied to deep underlying sweetness. Lots of complexity and a little bit of leathery peatiness on the finish. As uncomplicated as whisky gets. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

I Hope This Ben Nevis Tastes Good

I Hope This Ben Nevis Tastes Good

Special Reserve, The Whisky Exchange 
Single malt - West Highlands
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tyre rubber, toffee, raisins, hints of smoke, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, slightly slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Malted grains, honey, tyre rubber, walnut skins, black tea, hints of fried eggs. 

Finish: Long. Raisins, black tea, vanilla, honey, hints of fried eggs. 

Comments: 

Thanks Andrea and Jason. This is a limited edition bottling from the Whisky Exchange. Quite bitter, but clean and well constructed. The flavours are well defined, if a bit sulphurous. Rather unusual and indeed enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2002/2018

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2002/2018

Roslin Distillers
Single malt - West Highlands 
Yellow gold

46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, mangoes, overripe peaches, cream, sour cream, passionfruit, hints of farm. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Papayas, mangoes, passionfruit, black tea, farmyard, lemon sweets, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, dried pears. 

Comments: 

A very smooth, well flavoured Ben Nevis. Lots of tropical fruit notes, and a hint of farmyard funk. It’s got a tinge of bitterness in it, but not a lot. The flavours are well defined and quite intense. Not seen this indie bottler before - I think this is their first bottling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single  - West Highlands
Amber, hints of red 
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, cream, lemon sweets, tobacco leaf, smoke, leather, hints of mint, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Smoke, peat, raisins, lemon sweets, orange peel, strawberries, cream, black tea. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, strawberries, orange peel, hints of prunes. 

Comments: 

Quite a rich and sweet Ben Nevis, but with more complex elements of smoke and peat. It’s surprisingly young, and at a relatively low ABV as well. It’s a tad unbalanced, but I love the character. Very nice indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ben Nevis 23yo

Ben Nevis 23yo

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - West Highlands
Dark gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, raisins, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of elderflower. With water, honey, elderflower, orange blossom, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, gooseberries, orange juice, orange peel, ginseng, hints of aluminium foil. With water, sweeter, peanuts, elderflower, honey, white grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, ginseng, breadcrumbs, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Tastes young, but has complexity. The flavours are bright and floral, in clear layers. There's a nutty, slightly metallic finish, that fades slightly to a bitter, cereally finish. Haven't had a lot of Ben Nevis, those that I remember tend to have been heavily sherried. This one is a lot more floral.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 23 yo 1991/2015

Ben Nevis 23 yo 1991/2015

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - West Highlands
Chestnut
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, marzipan, yoghurt, vanilla, hints of red grapes. With water, fried eggs, black pepper, orange juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, chewy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dried persimmons, marzipan, red grapes, orange peel, hints of fried eggs. With water, yoghurt, cream, orange juice, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Brown paper, dried persimmons, fried eggs, orange peel. 

Comments: 

This is sweet neat, dried persimmons, marzipan, plenty of jammy, baked notes. With water it opens up beautifully, becoming ever so savoury, with a hint of rubbery, slightly sulphury fried eggs. I've tasted this note in Ben Nevis before, and it's certainly very distinctive.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 10 yo

Ben Nevis 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highland
Amber
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, coconut oil, leather, peanuts, strawberry jam, olive oil, sea salt, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, slippery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, honeydew melon, leather, sea salt, chocolate, strawberry jam, peanuts, hints of olive oil.
Finish: Long. Chocolate, strawberry jam, peanuts, leather.

Comments:

Pretty decent strength for a flagship official bottling - nice to see some distilleries still keep their whiskies strong! This one is complex and rich, with lots of different layers of flavour, something quite unusual for a 10 yo. Nice, and good for a relaxing afternoon.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 78.38 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 78.38 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - West Highlands
Pink gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, orange peel, fried eggs, caramel, burnt sugar, tyre rubber, crème brulee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, cherries, fried eggs, photocopier paper, burnt sugar, hints of walnuts.
Finish: Medium. Tyre rubber, fried eggs, hints of biscuit.

Comments:

A little too eggy to be pleasant, although somehow the burnt sugar notes complement the slight savouriness. Not that great - I think this is one of the less pleasant SMWS bottlings.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009

Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Deep rose
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, butter, honey, port, sherry, peanuts, toffee, condensed milk.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickened slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Butter, peanuts, honey, condensed milk, tea, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Tea, peanuts, honey.

Comments:

One of the new offerings available at Whisky Live 2009. Matured in port pipes, it's a lovely rose colour. Quite sweet, with hints of good things like honey and toffee and butter. Hard to discern any fruit, but otherwise quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 78.39 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 78.39 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber red
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, custard, leather, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, dry, astringent, tannic.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oat porridge, dried cranberries, raisins, black tea, mulled wine, hints of citrus.
Finish: Long. Dry, citrus, vanilla, coca cola.

Comments:

For something so young, this has excellent depth of flavour - almost like an aged Glen Grant. Except there's a lot more fruit, and hints of cereal, tea and coca cola. Loaded with leather and butter in the nose too. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.