Ben Nevis 1997 The Single Malts of Scotland 22 yo

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Eixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

This Ben Nevis aged in a single Sherry Butt yielded 540 bottles. It is part of a set of 4 bottlings from the same year released between 2018 and 2021 by the Singh brothers, all aged in Sherry casks. This is the second. It's not entirely clear whether it's Cask Strength, the website does state that this range is bottled at ‘optimum strength’, not Cask Strength.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Walnuts and peanuts coated in caramel, plums and prunes, dates, raisins and dried apricots, figs, quinces, a few gooseberries here and there, all with a lovely mellow woodiness, patent leather, chocolatey spices, blood oranges sprinkled with cinnamon. Coffee éclair. It's relatively dirty, with a discreet touch of rancio and sulphur. On the palate, thick acacia honey, vanilla milk shake, roasted almonds, exotic spices, saffron and cardamom, star anise, vergeoise, soya milk. Long, explosive finish, liquorice and grey tobacco, thyme and rosemary, mentholated, herbaceous, earthy hints. Peppery barley sugar, French toast, orange jam with a touch of bitterness, ginger.

 

In Short, 

Let's be clear, this is an exceptional Ben Nevis, not my favourite, but not far off. It comes from the distillery's golden years, when every distillation yielded something wonderful, and the Sherry is beautifully integrated. As for the price, that's another story unfortunately. When it first came out it was still acceptable, but now it's really high. I suppose we should be grateful that there are still a few available.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Hermanos Gutiérrez - Hijos del Sol