Ben Nevis 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch No.1 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Get ready for one of the biggest malts in the business.

After a long absence, Ben Nevis is making a (brief) return. Followers of this distillery will know that owners Nikka have been taking much of the single malt supply for their 'Japanese' blends. The distillery ran out of the stocks for the 10 year old at the end of 2017, "...exhausted to the point where Ben Nevis was seriously considering offering to purchase the refill cask stocks back from a competitor they’d previously sold to."

A parcel of the standard issue 10 Year Old has finally made it to Australia, and included in the shipment is a small volume of the even harder to find Batch 1 cask strength. Distilled in 2008 and bottled at a stupendous 62.4% ABV, around 8000 bottles were produced. There are no plans currently in place for Batch 2 – the intention being to restore the supply of the standard 46% core expression. The scarcity and high quality output will serve to further fuel demand for a distillery that's already garnered a quiet cult following. If you're new to Ben Nevis, get ready for one of the biggest malts in the business.

Tasting note: Deep brass to copper colour. Something you don't find often: Young Ben Nevis, all natural - this time matured in a combination of first fill ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-wine casks. The aroma is as thick as marmalade; oily, with hints of chocolate cheese cake and caramel fudge, developing fruitier notes of Summer Pudding and orange zest. It's a massive attack, flooding the mouth with bittersweet dark chocolate, dried fruits and stewed plum-like flavours - the oak influence almost as big as the malt itself. Ginger biscuits, grilled pineapple, pipe tobacco, struck match and copious spices through the booming finish. Wow. You really know you're drinking whisky here. A little water goes a long way to taming the beast, accenting a stewed fruit aspect. Powerhouse malt. 62.4% Alc./Vol.