Ben Nevis 1996 The Taste of Whisky Cervus Elaphus Scoticus 27 yo

 

 

 

54,8°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By The Taste of Whisky

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Almost Unpeated

The Taste of Whisky is a bottler that comes to us from Poland, launched in 2018. They recently inaugurated this Endangered Species range, which highlights an endangered species for each bottle. This one is the Volume III of the range, and it's the Scottish deer that is featured, the Cervus Elaphus Scoticus, it's even drawn on the label. The container is a Ben Nevis 1996 aged 27 years and 3 months in a Bourbon Hogshead, from which only 198 bottles were made.

Let's Taste It : 

Liquid honey and sunflower oil, plenty of white fruits, mirabelles and ripe plums, a dash of vanilla, beeswax, melted butter and royal jelly. Exotic fruits are also present, roasted pineapple, papaya and juicy mangoes. The whole blends into a lovely balance of sunshine and flowers, with a somewhat creamy caramel note. On the palate, still very fruity and honeyed, the exotic fruits are more discreet, a bit of resin and white peaches, nectarines, Conference pears, the spices are drowned in there, with apple doughnuts and rose loukoums. Quite long and relatively powerful finish, lemon and pineapple pulp, young wood, a pinch of salt, cola nut, nutmeg. Roasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short,  

Perhaps the best Ben Nevis I've ever tasted, full of exotic fruits, but also wax and butter, with just the right floral notes. A truly exceptional experience. Of course, despite the rather high price, there's not a single one left, so you'll have to scour the auctions to find one, and even then, I can't see those who will part with any.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Anna Von Hausswolf - The Mysterious Vanishing of Electra