Ben Nevis 8 Year (Single Cask Nation)

 

I recently bought the latest Single Cask Nation three-pack, consisting of three ex-bourbon bottlings: Balmenach (good), Glen Moray (better), and Ben Nevis (best). I hope it's not a spoiler to say up front that this is a damned fine bottle of Ben Nevis, and might be the best dram of Ben Nevis I've had in years. 

 

Ben Nevis, famously (infamously?) owned by Nikka (itself owned by Asahi) over in Japan, is a curious distillery in terms of personality or character. It's very characteristically "dirty" - like my beloved Ardmore, or Craigellachie, or Springbank, to name a few. Ben Nevis very often has a distinctive industrial/farm note that reminds me of old tractors working a field - dirty grease, oil, soil, clay, all together. It's a lovely note and pairs quite well with the fruit and honey that Ben Nevis also tends to present. 

However, I've had a not-insignificant amount of Ben Nevis which lacked that signature funk, to my great resignation. I assume that the distillery is selling off the off-profile casks, at least to some extent, to the independent bottlers, and that's what I had. In particularly I'm not sure I've ever had a Ben Nevis from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society that DID have that lovely funky note about it, which is greatly disappointing and a little curious. Maybe just bad luck of the draw.

So I was fairly unsure what to think about this offering from Single Cask Nation. Here is their flavometer: 

and their official tasting notes: 

NOSE: Little touch of distillery funk to open followed by damp malt, charred sticks, dirt floor, petrichor, wheatgerm, budding trees, grey pepper, and even a hint of poached pears.

PALATE: Really warming with rich malt, Whoppers, Ovaltine, raisins, and just a touch of freshly sliced fennel and green banana as it transitions towards the finish.

FINISH: Long and lasting while pleasingly dry with pronounced malt, warm earth, and lingering notes of grey pepper and dark chocolate (80% cocoa and above).

I am excited about that spiky "earthy" line, as well as the various notes like "dirt floor," "petrichor," "distillery funk," and "warm earth." After 8 years in an ex-bourbon cask, bottled at 60.1% ABV, let's explore: 

Nose: This is a truly delectable, beautiful nose: Big fresh flowers ("budding trees," I assume), big ripe apple, machine grease, funky pottery clay, carbon, petrichor, coffee (!), grass and leaves, and - yes - poached pears. What a fascinating and funky nose! I loved it. 

With water: it takes the water well, and and concentrates a new scent of chocolate paired with the coffee, which softens a little, kind of like cafe au lait. 

Mouthfeel: Buttery: rich and smooth.

Palate: Chocolate malt balls (Whoppers), espresso grounds, cocoa almonds, apples and pears, rain-soaked forest floor, and a lovely hint of charred steak. Layers and layers of delight here. 

It takes water well, but the water softens the flavors in a way I don't care for - and it dilutes the floral/petrichor elements. I prefer it undiluted. 

Finish: Long finish - chocolate, coffee, burnt meat, black pepper, and hints of orchard fruit skins (seriously). 

Verdict: My favorite of the three bottles I just got from Single Cask Nation: funky, odd, delightful, full of personality, and lots of unusual flavors. Huge win, and highly recommended.