Ben Nevis 2016 Artist Collective N°7.2 8 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

1st Fill Montravel Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

After a two-year absence, the Artist Collective range is back. We'll never know why it wasn't released in 2023. But perhaps it's because it's getting harder and harder to find quality casks that are affordable. Because one of the key principles of this range is to offer good value bottlings that are not too expensive. And in this new Batch, the 7th, we can see that there is no longer any cask strength. Presumably in order to optimise costs. This one is the only one in the new Batch with a really high alcohol content, reduced to the traditional 100° Proof. It's a blending of 3 first-fill casks of Montravel wine, a wine from south-west of France. This makes a total of 980 bottles. I notice that this new Batch has the Signatory Vintage seal. It's never been a secret that La Maison du Whisky, which launched Artist Collective, relied on Signatory Vintage casks. But this is the first time that the illustrious bottler assumes the full paternity of the product. It seems that La Maison du Whisky now only distributes the range, and no longer bottles it. Once again, this may be a question of cost.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Almost acidic red fruit, chocolate with dried fruits, grapes, goji berries, redcurrants. The whole is enhanced by a relatively discreet, earthy and vegetal peat, which gives it breadth, making it ethereal, in a way reminiscent of the distillery's profile. The palate remains very fruity, with raspberry coulis, fruit yoghurt and honeyed hints. The spices are not at all disturbing. It's quite velvety and gourmand, with vegetal notes, cloves and fennel. The finish is quite long, coppery, with a touch of espelette pepper, cherry stones, chocolate fondant.

 

In Short, 

At first, the distillery's character is clearly subdued by the casks. Then it balances out a bit, and it becomes more interesting. This is of course a very original profile, you won't find it anywhere else, but you don't recognize the distillery. For the originality, it would be worth to buy it, but it's nevertheless expensive for what it is.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Shaking Sensations - In Dead Silence, Hang Your Ghosts