Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory 8 year old Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

In the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fort William, where the highest mountain in Scotland looms over the distillery, sits some of the most understated character in whisky. No smoke, no noise, just malt, clay and time, caught in a pair of old sherry casks.

The expert's description

Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory Vintage 8 years Un-Chillfiltered Collection is a Single Highland Malt Whisky matured in two 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, casks no. 277 and 278, and bottled at 46 % without chill filtration and without added colour.

The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the Signatory range where everything is released unfiltered and uncoloured, so the whole character of the cask stays in the glass. The whisky was distilled on 8 December 2014 and bottled in January 2023 after eight years in wood.

The two refill butts give a more restrained sherry influence than a first fill cask would, but enough to draw out dried fruit, nuts and a lightly spiced warmth. The Ben Nevis spirit is rustic and powerful and built for this kind of maturation, where the weight of the malt meets the sweetness of the cask without either taking charge.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, hazelnut and an earthy malt note. Behind it sit a hint of wet clay and orange.

Palate

Rustic and powerful with raisin, nut and spiced warmth. The malt takes up more room than the cask, and that is the whole point of the range.

Finish

Long and dry with nut, spice and an earthy undertone.

Specifications

Name: Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory Vintage 8 år Un-Chillfiltered Collection
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: Two 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, casks no. 277 and 278
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 8 December 2014
Bottled: January 2023
Edition: Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Flavour profile

Sherry matured · Rustic · Nutty · Spiced · Dry

Did you know?

Chill filtration spread in the 1960s because supermarkets complained about cloudy whisky on the shelves. The process removes the fatty acids that cause haze at low temperatures, but it takes a share of the texture with it.

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Frequently asked questions about Ben Nevis 2014/2023 Signatory 8 years Un-Chillfiltered

What is the Un-Chillfiltered Collection?

The Signatory range where every bottling happens without chill filtration and without colouring. The series holds a fixed strength of 46 %, high enough that the whisky normally does not go cloudy in the glass at room temperature.

Which casks were used?

Two 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, numbers 277 and 278. They were drawn together, so the bottling is not a single cask, but the cask numbers are on the label.

Why does it taste earthy?

That is the character of the spirit itself. Ben Nevis carries a rustic, almost clay-like note that many associate with old fashioned production, and it steps forward clearly when the cask does not drown it.

Does it turn cloudy with water?

It might, if the water is cold. Without chill filtration the natural oils can turn the whisky milky at low temperatures. It does not affect the flavour, but use water at room temperature if you want to avoid it.

How does it differ from the Decanter Collection?

The range and the bottle shape. Both sit at 46 % and use Oloroso butts, but the Un-Chillfiltered comes in the standard bottle and leans even harder on the idea that the cask should not take up too much room.

Is it good for a whisky tasting?

Yes. It is powerful enough to hold its own against other glasses on the table, but not so dominant that it ruins the running order. Pour it into a whisky glass mid tasting, between the light and the smoky.