Ben Nevis x3: Signatory 2013 8yo, Duncan Taylor 2012 9yo, Single Malts 2013 9yo (+Nikka ftB)
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- Опубліковано 13 тра 2024
- Lasy year my friend and supporter Joe very kindly handed me a bunch of Ben Nevis samples to taste through, and today is the day. Ben Nevis is a delightfully weird character of a whisky, the only distillery in Fort William in the Western Highlands, somewhere in-between Tomatin and Oban both geographically and in how it tastes. I've reviewed them before (at • Random Highlanders: Be... and • Ben Nevis/Glencadam 5y... ) and they're always, always tons of fun. And just to make this more interesting (and controversial), let's throw in the famously Ben Nevis-driven blend from Nikka that won all the awards a few years ago:
- Nikka From The Barrel Double Matured Blended Whisky (NAS, bottled circa 2023; 51.4% ABV), 82/100
- Ben Nevis 2013 8 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch (bottled by Signatory; aged 10/17/2013 to 11/19/2021 in hogsheads no. 427 and 429; natural color, unchillfiltered; 46% ABV), 84+/100
- Ben Nevis 2012 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch (bottled by Duncan Taylor for Binny's; aged 11/2012 to 4/2022 in cask no. 361719; 53.9% ABV), 86/100
- Ben Nevis 2012 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch (bottled by Single Malts of Scotland for Binny's; aged 12/3/2012 to 4/7/2022 in bourbon hogshead no. 47357; 57.5% ABV), 88/100
And I end the video with a big fat smile on my face, of course. Thanks to Joe and thanks to Ben Nevis.
The Nikka, a bit like that Campbeltown Loch I just reviewed, is more impressive the less attention you place upon it. It's got flavor and it's got heft - the 51.4% is helping a lot - but look a little closer and the flavor is a bit muddled and the heft gets a bit acrid on the finish. It's still nice, it's thoroughly coffee'd and nutty and lightly peaty and a little orangey, but don't ignore the (modest) shortcomings.
Unblended Ben Nevis has no such issues. The nose on the Signatory is just killer, a shameless explosion of fruit and malty funk and rocks. The DT has it on the palate, though. Meanwhile the SMoS is actually secretly a peater, which was initially freaking me out because it's so subtle about it on the nose. But it brings all the advantages that peat gives to a young whisky like this, especially some extra carry on the finish and a bit more breadth in the notes. The prices on some of these young Nevises are also pretty reasonable for how good they are - or more reasonable than the terminally megahyped 1996s, anyhow.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
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Wow, that was fantastic. Thanks for reviewing these, Scott!
I liked each of the three of these Ben Nevis’s and I ranked them in the same order, but I was only able to explain why very crudely. You nailed it.
Now I look forward to going back and sipping them along with the video to be able to identify the notes and understand the texture.
You have some serious talent/skill and are performing quite a service for someone like me!!
I’ve never heard anyone draw a parallel with Ben Nevis and Tomatin before and I have zero Tomatin bottles. I see there is a very well priced 18 year old Tomatin for sale at a very large Chicago retailer. Would that be a good choice for me?
Well thank you for the samples, sir! 😁
Tomatin did just kick their prices up, which is annoying, but it's still well worth exploring. And yeah, the 18 is still a bit of a value. I should try it again one day, I remember it being a lovely chocolate orange bomb. (It also has a reputation as a favorite among Scotch distillery workers.)
That SMoS Ben Nevis was REALLY good for how much it was and the age on it. Friend bought that and I take a little every time I get the chance.
I have 427+429 from FD and agree with your notes on it. Tons of stonefruit, white wine, green grapes, and white pepper with high minerality, bourbon cask dank herbality and crispness. Not highly impressive, but good.
NFTB is not great but passable to me.
Really cool to have a review set where I have actually had a majority of the product being reviewed!
Ha! Now you can check my notes and see how scuffed I am...
Ben Nevis is always welcome in this household
How are you gonna say no, right?
imo the OB Ben Nevis from the batches 2018-2020 were obscenely good (basically the design before the current OB 10). Huge funky, leathery, sweaty nose and so so rich.
...You have my interest.
@@differentspirits4157 If you want a really difficult Ben Nevis... All I'm saying is there's an OB Ben Nevis Batch 1 CS release at 2018 that's absolutely bonkers...