We are already halfway through January so it’s time to say goodbye to the holiday and get back to work! So this is my first review of the year, and it seemed appropriate to start with a Ben Nevis 1997 from Maltbarn.
I’m a bit under the spell of Ben Nevis lately. I keep buying bottles of this distillery and this Ben Nevis 1997 was my last addition. It is one of my favourite brands and I keep going back to it, just as I always go back to Springbank. And even though this is apparently my first Ben Nevis review here, it is one of my goals for 2019 is to focus more on other distilleries as well. Don’t worry, I have more Ben Nevis reviews on its way. But it is good to broaden your horizons once in a while! Anyway, let’s see what this Ben Nevis has to offer.
This Ben Nevis has matured in a bourbon cask for 21 years and is bottled at 49,7% ABV.
Ben Nevis 1997 tasting notes:
Nose: it smells a bit spirity, young even when it’s not that young at all. Grain is what I get at first. Than cereals. Then it starts to become a bit fruity. Mostly oranges. After while it becomes more fruity, definitely a whisky that needs some time. Then some grapefruit too. It’s quite zesty. With water: less grainy.
Taste: much more fruity. Pears, galia melons, a hint of oranges. A nice layer of grapefruit. And a little bit of pepper. With water: creamy, it reminds me a bit of whipped cream.
Finish: the finish is mid-long with grapefruit and black pepper. With water: citrus too and caramel.
Yup another nice Ben Nevis again. It’s maybe not the best out there, but still a fine one. It’s quite fresh. And has that typical grapefruit taste, which I get more often in Ben Nevis. It’s maybe a tad too thin on the nose. But it’s very drinkable and nicely fresh and fruity.
Photo: Whiskybase
