Ben Nevis 1990 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highlands (West)

Brand: Ben Nevis 1990 (Silver Seal)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  22 Years

ABV: 60.4 %

Colour: Amber with Orange and Brown Tones.

Nose: An initial Wave of Old Sherry and a little Sulphur is followed by Dried Fruits, Cherries, Apricot, Honey, Oak, Buttered Toast, Nuts, Orange Marmalade, Rum Tea, Herbs and Soy Sauce. The Alcohol is very strong of course and you need to find your way around it. Smell the edges of your glass rather than the middle. It's around the edges that you will find the Fruit and Honey. The Oak is very well integrated. This Ben Nevis reminds me a bit of the Aberlour A' Bunadh series from time to time but it's not quite as attractive. 

Palate: Powerful Meaty delivery. A Whisky made of Sherry and Rum! I also find light Sulphur, Oak, Orange, slightly Bitter Herbal Tea, Spices like Nutmeg and Pepper, Nuts, Old Leather and Tobacco. It's quite strong! 

Finish: Quite Long and Sweet with Rum Tea, Cooked Red Fruits, Oranges, Grapefruit Juice, Perfume and a touch of Menthol/Mint.

I added a bit of Water and that helps to take out the Alcohol Sting on the Nose. The Water gives more room to the Fruit and Honey. I also find the Malt now. Palate and Finish do not materially change but are easier to enjoy. In this case I advise you to add a bit of Water to the Malt.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22- Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Ben Nevis 1990 I am reviewing today was distilled in 1990 and bottled in November 2012 by Silver Seal Whisky Company/Whisky Antique SRL, an Independent Bottler based in Formigine (MO), Italy and founded in 1979. It aged in Ex-Sherry Cask # 536 and 597 bottles were reserved by Silver Seal. This Ben Nevis has its Natural Colour and is Non Chill-Filtered. It won't be very easy to find and costs around 250 US Dollars. Whiskybase in Rotterdam might still have it.

Ben Nevis is located in Fort William in the Western Highlands and was founded in 1825 by Long John McDonald. Since 1989 it is owned by Nikka from Japan.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: A Very Nice Sherried Highlander with a remarkable high ABV given its 22 years. Can't be cheap of course. Personally I think that an ABV of around 50% would have been sufficient. Cause with the current ABV of over 60%, it reminds me of the strong Austrian Stroh Rum from time to time. I also took away half a point for the Sulphur cause I don't like it. But lots of people don't have problems with it or don't detect it. If you like a well-crafted old-fashioned Sherried Highlander and you have the Cash, you can certainly try this Ben Nevis. If you like the flavour profile but want to spend less you could also consider the before mentioned Aberlour A' Bunadh. 

Jan van den Ende                                                        January 30, 2014

Clan MacGregor Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Clan MacGregor

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS (probably 3 Years)

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Golden Sunlight  

Nose: Light. I get lots of Grain and slightly Sharp Alcohol, the usual suspects in a Bottom Shelf Blended Scotch. I also find a little Grass and Straw, Dried Fruit, Toasted Nuts, Young Green Branches, Brown Sugar, light Spices, a touch of Honey and some Caramel. When nosing the empty glass later on I was quite surprised to find Floral Tones and a bit of Fruit (Peach or Apricot).

Palate: Watery, Sugary Sweet and Hot with Grains, young Oak, Nut Shells, Pine, Grass, Dried Fruit, Toffee, light Vanilla and Pepper.

Finish: Short, Sweet and Hot with Grains, Sugar, light Oak, Toffee and Pepper.

With a bit of Water, the Alcohol retreats somewhat on the Nose. On the Palate I get a bit of Dried Apricot as well. But the Blend becomes too Thin and starts to smell and taste like a flavoured Vodka.

Rating: 70

Nose: 18 – Taste: 17.5 – Finish: 17 – Overall: 17.5

General Remarks: According to the packaging, the real life Clan MacGregor has a renowned history dating back to the 14th Century. The bottle includes The Lion's Head, the personal crest of the 24th Clan Chief , Sir Gregor MacGregor. This Whisky is blended and bottled by Alexander MacGregor & Company of Glasgow. It is a Blend of 15 Malt Whiskies and selected Grain Whiskies. It is said that the Kininvie Distillery, located in the backyard of The Balvenie, is the main Malt used in Clan MacGregor. This Blend is very cheap. Prices vary between 15 and 20 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Drinking Experience On The Rocks: Thin but Drinkable. If you want, you could consider giving it a bit of a face lift by mixing in a Smoky Blend like JW Black.

Conclusion: The Clan MacGregor Blend does not give us many interesting Aromas and Flavours. No irritating off-notes as well. The Nose is quite acceptable given the low price and it's a pity that the Fruity Speyside tones I found when I nosed the empty glass are overpowered by the other Aromas when your glass is filled. But on the Palate and in the Short Finish the Clan MacGregor underperforms. It's basically a Watery mixture of Grain, Sugar and Pepper. I've said it before and I will say it again. At this price level it's better to drink a Standard Bourbon.  

Jan van den Ende                                                               January 27, 2014

Speyburn 10 Years Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland/Speyside

Brand: Speyburn

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV:  40 %

Date: 25/01/2014

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Slightly Sour and Harsh. Sweeter when given lots of Air. At first it smells a bit like Vegetables or Potatoes cooked in Salted Water. Later I find Grain, Heather, light Honey, Lemon - and Grapefruit Zest, Brown Sugar, Oak, Pine Needles, Nuts, Toast with Margarine and Apricot Preserve, Toffee, Bread Dough and light Mint. The Alcohol is not integrated and stings a bit. In a Blind Tasting I would have probably identified it as a Bottom Shelf Blended Scotch.

Palate: A little Sharp, Sugary Sweet and Watery with Toffee, Grains, Nuts, Oak, Pine, Margarine, Lemon, Pepper and a hint of Aniseed.

Finish: Short, Sharp and Slightly Bitter with Oak, Grape Seeds, Grass, Heather, Margarine, Dried Apricot, Grapefruit Juice and a bit of Toffee and Vanilla.

I added some Water and you get some more Floral tones on the Nose. Some Honey, Butter and Lemonade as well. The Palate does not change a lot but the Finish becomes less Bitter. Quite unexpectedly, the Speyburn 10 smells and tastes slightly better with added Water. Although it does become very Thin and somewhat resembles a flavoured Vodka.

Rating: 72.5

Nose: 18.5 - Taste: 18 - Finish: 18 - Overall: 18

General Remarks: The Speyburn Distillery is located in Rothes and was founded in 1897 by the Hopkin Family. Today it is owned by Inver House Distillers, part of Thai Beverage PLC. The distillery is quite popular in the USA, mostly because of the low price I suppose. Next to the 10 years, the Core Range also includes a 25 Years and the NAS Bradan Orach. But most of the production goes into Blends. The 10 Years matures on Ex-Bourbon Casks and is not expensive at an average 30 US Dollars per bottle. But you can find it as cheap as 20 US Dollars, mainly in some parts of the USA.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average.

Conclusion: It's not expensive of course so you can't expect miracles. Still, in my opinion a Single Malt should have enough personality to stand out on its own. The Speyburn 10 does not do that in a sufficient way. I fully understand now why so much young Speyburn disappears in Blends. On the other hand, the 25 Years has won some prices so I will try to find a sample of that one!

Jan van den Ende                                                            January 2014