With the Single Cask Nation collection below the umbrella of The Artisanal Spirits Firm (proprietor of the SMWS), we’re seeing extra of their bottlings right here in Europe. Amongst their newest releases we discover a middle-aged Ben Nevis (PX end) and Bowmore (Oloroso) in addition to a 20 yr previous Glen Grant. I imagine most of those are solely accessible outdoors of the US.
Should you look into the vintages and cask varieties, you’ll rapidly discover that almost all of them had a number of SMWS counterparts previously. The 2 sister labels now appear to depend on the identical shares.
Glen Grant 20 yo 2003 (58,9%, Single Cask Nation 2024, first fill bourbon barrel #192741, 165 btl.)
Nostril: a number of butter biscuits (cigarette wafer rolls), with vanilla custard and almond cream. Hints of hay, purple apples, melons and a few toffee. Then candy lemon sweet, meadow flowers and light-weight resinous notes. It appears youthful than it really is.
Mouth: nonetheless creamy and candy, albeit with a very good dose of woody warmth. Honey and caramel, together with ginger and chilli. Then eucalyptus, some leathery notes, in addition to just a few drops of cough syrup. Dried wildflowers and cardamom. Vanilla pudding within the background, together with walnuts, grapefruit and dried pear slices.
End: lengthy, very natural with a barely bitter character. Natural tea, citrus zest, white pepper and a mineral dryness.
A pleasant biscuity profile that brings sweeter notes but additionally drying natural parts. It doesn’t actually stand out in any method although. Apparently offered out in most locations.
Ben Nevis 11 yo 2012 (57,3%, Single Cask Nation 2024, first fill American oak PX hogshead end #160359, 275 btl.)
Nostril: nicely dosed, trendy sherry, displaying purple berries, sultanas and stewed cherries together with some vanilla and black pepper from the (toasted) oak. Then some caramelized nuts, heat leather-based and a touch of cocoa. Nice hints of dusty cabinets as nicely.
Mouth: sturdy grainy notes with a lightweight alcoholic burn. Extra toasted wooden and a barely rustic earthy facet. Roasted nuts, some cola sweets, black pepper and ginger. Then brown bread and a barely meaty facet. Salted caramel in the direction of the top.
End: medium size, with chocolate notes, umami hints, a bit of espresso and malt extract.
I personally don’t assume Ben Nevis wants this type of PX make-up, because it washes out most of what I like about this distillery. The cask itself shouldn’t be dangerous although. Over right here in Europe we are able to get it from TyndrumWhisky or The Whisky Alternate for example. Rating: 82/100
Bowmore 11 yo 2013 (57,4%, Single Cask Nation 2024, first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead #160490, 307 btl.)
Nostril: this begins with creamy toffee and nougat, in opposition to a background of dry, earthy smoke and rubbery notes. Hints of burnt rosemary and black tea, in addition to some bramble. Then oregano and brown sugar. To date little or no of the fruity markers that we hope for in Bowmore from this period, though after some time there may be some ripe papaya beneath.
Mouth: very deep coal smoke, with some tarry notes and extra of those Mediterranean herbs. Barely muddy notes, together with charred wooden, darkish prune and blackberries. Then black peppercorns, salty liquorice and ginger.
End: lengthy, on darkish chocolate, natural peat, extra prunes and liquorice. A floral edge too.
Fairly a fierce Bowmore, the sherry cask actually highlighted its medicinal and tarry facet. An attention-grabbing choice. Additionally offered out, I’m afraid. Rating: 87/100
