57,1° (100° Proof)
Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands
2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts
Independent Bottling
By Signatory Vintage
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2026
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Heavily Peated
There are no fewer than eight Ben Nevis bottlings in the 100 Proof range, launched in early 2024, and this is only the fourth one I’ve tried. This one has a distinctive feature found only on 100 Proof #1 and #17: it is heavily peated. The peat isn’t all that heavy, I’d estimate it at around 30 ppm, but for a Highland whisky, that’s already impressive. However, like many 100 Proof bottlings, and all the Ben Nevis whiskies in this range, it’s matured in sherry casks, in this case second-fill Oloroso sherry butts.
Let's Taste It :
Lovely forestry and fruity fragrances, dates, figs, berries, ferns, but the peat quickly takes over and dominates everything. It is thick, grassy, with a hint of earth, wet dog. It then balances out, forest glade and bark, it becomes rocky, but rather vegetal overall. A zest of lemon. The palate is quite oily, walnut oil, it’s mellow, sweet, treacle, runny honey, beaten eggs, a wooden touch, subtle spices, white pepper. The finish develops slowly, eventually becoming powerful. Bark, vines, hot chestnuts, cork oak, traces of charcoal and liquorice, warm caramel.
In Short,
This is certainly the first time I’ve found the peat to be too strong, to the point where it masks the rest of the profile somewhat. But that’s the case here, it results in a Ben Nevis full of character, but one that lacks complexity, particularly on the nose. That said, the finish is really well executed, and it’s pleasant on the palate, so I’m giving it a good mark. The price is very low, as is always the case with this range.
Score : 87
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Katia Pojidaeva - Inherited Scars
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