Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory 8 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Eight years and one month between filling and bottling. Signatory notes the dates precisely, down to the day, and that is not pedantry. It is the kind of information that makes it possible to understand why two bottles from the same distillery taste different.

Please note: The cap on the bottle is rusty. It has no bearing on the whisky inside, but we would rather say so up front.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in hogsheads, casks no. 427 and 429, and bottled at 46 %.

The whisky went into cask on 17 October 2013 and was drawn on 19 November 2021. Two hogsheads were bottled together, which gives a slightly larger outturn than a single cask, but it remains a limited release from two casks that lay side by side.

This and the seven year old sister bottling come from the same distillation day. The difference lies purely in which casks were chosen and when they were drawn, which makes the pair an unusually good exercise in what a single year in cask actually means.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, pear and pale oak with a note of melted butter. A hint of wet stone sits behind it.

Palate

Rounder than the seven year old with honey, cereal and a touch of cinnamon. The oily texture is still there, but the edges have been worn down a little.

Finish

Medium and warm with malt, oak and a dry close.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory Vintage 8 år
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead, casks no. 427 and 429
Distilled: 17 October 2013
Bottled: 19 November 2021
EAN no.: 5021944116133

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Soft · Oily · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Signatory has printed the distillation date and the bottling date on the label from the start. That was far from normal in 1988, when most bottlers made do with an age statement, and the practice has since spread across the trade.

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Frequently asked questions about Ben Nevis 2013/2021 Signatory 8 years

What separates this from the seven year old Signatory?

One year in cask and two different casks. Both come from the same distillation day in October 2013, but this one lay until November 2021 in casks 427 and 429. It is rounder and a little more honeyed than the younger one.

Why does the bottle carry both 2013 and 2021?

Because Signatory always states both the distillation year and the bottling year. That lets you work out the exact age and compare bottles from the same distillery across vintages.

Does rust on the cap matter for the whisky?

No. The rust sits on the outside of the capsule and has no contact with the contents. The whisky in the bottle is unaffected and the seal is intact.

Is it made up of two casks?

Yes, hogsheads 427 and 429. They were drawn as one, which gives a slightly larger outturn than a single cask bottling, but the cask numbers are still on the label.

What should you eat with it?

Smoked fish or a young cheese with some acidity. The malty core and the light oily character handle both without being run over.

Is it a good place to meet Ben Nevis for the first time?

Yes, actually. Eight years is enough for the cask to have rounded it off, but not so much that the weight of the distillery disappears. Pour it into a whisky glass and compare it with an official ten year old if you can.