Though my pile of Ben Nevis samples is much less spectacular than it was, there are nonetheless good ones available. At this time we put two 1998 casks head-to-head. One was bottled by The Whisky Company for Macau, the opposite can also be a Chinese language bottling, from The Liquoree.
Ben Nevis 24 yo 1998 (46,9%, The Whisky Company ‘Macau Version’ for The Whisky Cash & Concord, hogshead #1473, 120 btl.)
Nostril: the anticipated mixture of wax candles, metallic polish and mineral notes. Sunflower oil, hints of bitter grapefruit peels and a few linoleum. Then some hay and recent concrete. Greasy touches and maybe a pair of family cleansing gloves.
Mouth: the inexperienced fruitiness that we frequently discover in middle-aged Irish malts (inexperienced banana), together with chalky notes and paraffin. Mid-palate a faint sooty word comes out, in addition to gentle hints of mustard, walnuts and a few gingerbread within the background. Then hints of peppery malt, grassy vegetation and dough.
End: medium to lengthy, with waxy notes, lime, bitter almonds and echoes of treacle.
Principally the greener, extra austere and quirky aspect of the distillery – don’t anticipate a lot fruits on this one. Very entertaining whisky although, completely charismatic.
Ben Nevis 23 yo 1998 (47,6%, The Liquoree 2021, hogshead #659, 140 btl.)
Nostril: barely fruitier (inexperienced apple, star fruit and loads of lemon peels), though there’s nonetheless a sturdy aspect of pepper, walnut and mustard together with wool and chalk.
Mouth: now the fruits discuss much more. Candy oranges, inexperienced gooseberries, kiwi and hints of mango. These are blended with mineral notes, natural tea, lemon peels once more and a touch of camphor. Will get drier and extra peppery alongside the way in which. Then a pleasant waxiness and salt in direction of the top.
End: lengthy, somewhat natural and leafy. Nonetheless some paraffin, white pepper and salt.
A pleasant mixture of austere parts with extra fruits on this one. At all times factor. Jogs my memory of cask #662 for Nanyang Whisky however barely much less tropical. Rating: 88/100
