Sunday, 16 April 2023

Ben Nevis 1995 The Whisky Jury 27 yo

 
 
 
49,5° 
Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands
Refill Bourbon Hogshead
Independent Bottling 
By The Whisky Jury
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2022
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Almost Unpeated
 
 
 
In 2019, a new bottler is showing up. This is The Whisky Jury, they are Belgian, and their first work is a Ben Nevis distilled in 1995, aged 23. Three years later, while this company has achieved recognition and critical acclaim, a new Ben Nevis 1995 is introduced to the public. It's their 55th bottling, and this time it's a 27 years old. The first cask was numbered 970, this one is numbered 960. Both are Refill Hogsheads, and the second, which is the subject of this tasting, is produced in 251 hand-numbered copies, subtitled "Flip Pancakes not Whisky". I'm not sure that the price of pancakes could interest speculators.
 
 
 
 
Let's Taste It : 
Some waxy minerality, and straight after a waterfall of fruits. Peach above all, very juicy, but also roasted pineapple, a squeeze of lemon, white grapes, meringue pie, acacia honey, pastry cream, and that funky character typical of the distillery. Nuts, coconut, a few drops of vanilla. On the palate, it's creamy, oily, silky, beguiling, lemon tart, with a scoop of ice cream, candied fruits, blood orange, passion fruit, whipped cream, up to a very long, powerful and sparkling finish, biscuit, melting marzipan, soft caramel, almonds, chocolate milk.
 
In Short,
I found it excellent. A fine blend of a venerable and serious age, and a fruity and delightful exuberance. It combines the advantages of old age, patina, complexity, and those of youth, power and expressiveness. Only tiny flaw which means that the note is not higher: the finish lacks a bit of explosiveness, the fault of a relatively low alcohol level. Other than that, it's just perfect, and better than I would have expected. When it came out, the price was almost reasonable, but now everything is sold out and you have to make a pact with the flippers to get it, it's very sad.
Score : 90
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :
 
                                           Skinhape - Mandala

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