Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 9 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%

A 2nd fill cask has already given away most of its colour and sweetness once. What remains comes slowly, which is why nine years in a used Oloroso butt tastes like something other than nine years in fresh wood.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 9 years Decanter Collection is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in 2014 and lay nine years in cask. The casks held sherry and then whisky once before, which gives a more measured influence than first fill wood would. The result is a balance between fruity shades and spiced notes rather than a heavy sherry bomb.

There is a sister bottling in the same series from the same vintage, drawn a year earlier. Compared with that one this has had a little more time to gather itself, and the difference between the two is one of the clearest examples of what a single extra year in a butt does.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin, orange peel and a hint of almond. The sherry is clear but bright and dry rather than heavy.

Palate

Rich and harmonious with dried fruit, spice and a malt core carrying it all. There is depth without heaviness.

Finish

Long and spiced with fruit and a dry, nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 9 år Decanter Collection
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Edition: The Decanter Collection
EAN no.: 5021944127061

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Fruity · Spiced · Balanced · Dry

Did you know?

A cask can in practice be used three or four times before it no longer gives up enough character. After the third filling it is called a refill, and many distilleries use exactly those to let the style of the spirit come forward.

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Frequently asked questions about Ben Nevis 2014 Signatory Vintage 9 years Decanter

What does 2nd fill mean?

That the cask has been filled with whisky once, after originally holding sherry. It gives less colour and less wood sweetness than a first fill cask, and maturation takes longer, but the spirit gets more room.

What separates this from the eight year old in the same series?

One year in cask. Both were distilled in 2014 and matured in Oloroso butts, but this one had twelve months more. It is a shade rounder and more settled, where the younger one stands a little sharper at the edge.

Is it a sherry bomb?

No. 2nd fill butts give a restrained influence, so you get dried fruit and spice without the heavy, almost syrupy character familiar from first fill sherry casks.

How big is a sherry butt?

Around 500 litres, roughly twice the size of a hogshead. The large volume means less wood surface per drop and therefore slower maturation.

Does it need water?

Not necessarily. At 46 % it is in balance as it stands. Pour it into a whisky glass and let it sit for five minutes, and the fruit gathers itself.

What does it pair with?

A mature cheese with nuts or a piece of dark chocolate. The dry sherry character and the spice meet both easily without fighting for room.