Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory 7 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Seven years is young for a Highland malt, and that is exactly why it is interesting. The cask has not taken charge yet, and the raw, oily character of the Ben Nevis spirit still stands and fills the glass on its own.

Please note: There is rust on the cap of the bottle. It does not affect the contents, but it is worth knowing before you order.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 7 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in hogsheads, casks no. 414 and 415, and bottled at 46 %.

The bottling is assembled from two hogsheads that were kept together and drawn as one. That does not make it a single cask, but the outturn is still small, and the two casks were chosen because they pulled in the same direction.

Signatory Vintage was founded in Edinburgh in 1988 by Andrew Symington and has been based at the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry since 2002. The house is known for bottling young casks where the style of the distillery is still clear, rather than banking on age alone.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh barley, green apple and a lightly oily note. Vanilla and hay sit behind it.

Palate

Young and direct with malt, lemon peel and a powerful cereal core. The oak stays discreet and lets the spirit talk.

Finish

Medium, dry and malty with a light peppery edge.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 7 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, casks no. 414 and 415
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2021

Flavour profile

Malty · Fresh · Dry · Oily · Youthful

Did you know?

Signatory bought Edradour in 2002, at the time the smallest distillery in Scotland with two men in production. The house moved its bottling there and today runs both distillery and bottling business from the same address in Pitlochry.

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Frequently asked questions about Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory 7 years

Is seven years too young for a good whisky?

No. Age tells you about time in cask, not about quality. A young whisky from a distillery with powerful spirit can easily be more interesting than an old one from a neutral distillery. Here you get Ben Nevis in near raw form.

Is it a single cask?

No. The bottling comes from two hogsheads, numbers 414 and 415, drawn as one. The outturn is small, but technically it is not single cask.

What is a hogshead?

A cask of around 250 litres, typically rebuilt from American bourbon barrels by adding extra staves. It is the most widespread cask type in Scotch whisky.

Who is Signatory Vintage?

An independent bottler from Edinburgh, founded in 1988 and based at Edradour in Pitlochry since 2002. The house bottles casks from across Scotland under several ranges with different strengths and cask philosophies.

What defines young Ben Nevis bottlings?

The cereal character and the oily texture. Without many years of cask influence the weight of the spirit stands out clearly, and it is a side of the Highland you rarely meet in official releases.

Does it need water?

At 46 % it can be drunk as it is. Pour it into a whisky glass and give it five minutes, and the young edge settles by itself.