Ben Nevis has never tried to be elegant. The spirit is heavy, waxy and a shade unpolished, and that is exactly why the Japanese bought the distillery. They wanted raw material with muscle, not with manners.
The expert's description
Ben Nevis 10 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.
The distillery sits in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, and has been running since 1825. Nikka bought it in 1989, and a large share of production has found its way into Japanese blends since, which has made official bottlings a smaller part of the house than at most others.
The ten year old is the standing release of the distillery and one of the clearest expressions of the house style. The combination of bourbon and sherry casks gives both honey and dried fruit, but it is the weight of the spirit itself that carries the whisky, not the wood.
Tasting notes
Nose
A flower shop, honey and citrus fruit, with cream toffee behind. A faintly waxy note sits under it all.
Palate
Spiced at the start with a turn towards honeyed sweetness. Spice and acidity give a warm feel in the mouth, and the texture is thick without being heavy.
Finish
Long and powerful with dark chocolate and spice.
Specifications
Name: Ben Nevis 10 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5026673000234
Flavour profile
Full bodied · Honeyed · Spiced · Waxy · Fruity
Did you know?
Ben Nevis supplied new make spirit to Japan for many years, where it was matured and later sold on as Japanese whisky. That was entirely legal at the time, and binding rules for what may be called Japanese whisky only arrived in 2021.
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