Ben Nevis 1996 Review

“Good Nose But Too Woody On The Palate”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland (West)

Brand: Ben Nevis 1996 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 15 Years

ABV: 57.1 %

Colour: Amber with Orange Tones.

Nose: The Alcohol is quite present so give this Ben Nevis some time in the glass. The Nose is Full and Mature and the Sherry Cask did a nice job. I find lots of Chocolate as well as Citrus (Orange Marmalade, Mandarin), Barley Sugar, Honey, Toast, Assorted Nuts and Dried Fruits, Straw from a Cow Stable, light Sulphur, Green Coffee Beans, Oak, Ripe Mango and Peach, Rum and Menthol.

Palate: Strong Delivery. The Oak is very dominating. I also find Dark Orange Flavoured Chocolate, Mandarin, Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, Barley Sugar, Nuts, Marzipan, Toffee, Ginger, Pepper and a hint of Leather.   

Finish: Lots of Oak, Pepper and Ginger as well as some Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Rum, Mandarin, Toffee and a little Mint.  

I added a bit of Water and I found more Dried Fruit and Honey on the Nose. But Palate and Finish do not benefit from added Water. Better sip it neat. 

Rating: 85

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

General Remarks: The Ben Nevis Distillery was founded in 1825 by Long John MacDonald and is located at the foot of the famous Ben Nevis Mountain, close to Fort William (Inverness-Shire). Since 1989 it's owned by the Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.Ltd (Asahi Breweries). Some of its Malt is used in Blends like Dew of Ben Nevis and Glencoe.

The Ben Nevis I am tasting today was distilled on the 28th of October 1996 and was bottled at Cask Strength in September 2012. It matured in a Sherry Cask  # 1654 out of which 523 bottles were commercialised, some via Independent Whisky Bottler Whiskybase in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This Single Malt is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It might still be available at Whiskybase but only just. It costs around 170 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: When tasting Older Single Malts, it happens quite regularly that I like the Nose of these whiskies but find that Palate and Finish do not (fully) deliver what the Nose promises. Is this a coincidence or ain't it? I've read somewhere some time ago that the Whisky Industry invests more in Aromas than in Flavours. But how does that work out practically? I'm not at all at home in Chemistry so if somebody knows a bit more about this please leave your thoughts in the Comments Sector. Take this Ben Nevis for instance. I quite like the fully matured Nose, especially the Chocolate and Citrus notes. And for sure that's the work of the Ex-Sherry Cask. But on the Palate and in the Finish the wood and wood spice of this same Cask are too dominant. In January 2014, I tasted the Ben Nevis 1990 (22 Years) that also matured in an ex-Sherry Cask and was bottled by the Silver Seal Whisky Company. The Nose was similar to today's Ben Nevis but Palate and Finish were more balanced despite the longer time in the Cask. Does this mean that Palate and Finish of longer matured Whiskies benefit from a less active Cask? Or does the New Spirit more rapidly absorb the Aromas of the Cask than the Flavours? Or am I totally thinking in the wrong direction here! Please let me have your thoughts. In any case I conclude that the Ben Nevis 1996 is a well-crafted Single Malt but not quite to my taste as the Wood dominates Palate and Finish. 

Jan van den Ende                                                           February 21, 2015

Islay Mist Review

“I Mist Islay in this Blend”

Country: Scotland 

Brand: Islay Mist Deluxe

Bottler: MacDuff International Ltd, Glasgow

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: The name Islay Mist suggests some serious Peat and Smoke but that's not the case. There's a bit of Earth, Iodine, Brine and Campfire Smoke present but it's pushed into the background by Fruity New Make Spirit, Grapefruit, Grain
Alcohol, Dried Herbs, Toast and Removal Boxes. It's quite Thin actually. After a while I find some light Vanilla, light Honey, Floral Soap, Malt and White Sugar. When you smell the empty glass after an hour or so the Peat and Smoke are more noticeable. 

Palate: Young, Unfinished, Thin and Sugary Sweet with Floral Soap, Grain Alcohol, Citrus, light Honey, light Smoke, Wet Clay, Dried Herbs, Pepper, Menthol and Refill Oak. 

Finish: Middle-Long and Sugary Sweet with Grain Alcohol, light Smoke, Ashes, Mandarin, light Licorice, Dried Herbs, Pepper and Salt.

The Islay Mist does not accept added Water very well. It's already Thin as it is.

Rating: 76

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 18.5 - Finish: 18 - Overall: 19 

General Remarks: Islay Mist is an Islay led Blended Whisky that also contains Whiskies from the Mainland. It was first launched in 1922 to celebrate the 21st Birthday party of one Lord Margadale. Apparently it's a Blend with Laphroaig at the heart, accompanied by some Speyside Malts (including The Glenlivet) and some Grain Whiskies. There are various expressions available in the market. Next to the NAS I'm reviewing today you can find the 12 Years, the 17 Years, the Peated Deluxe and the Peated Reserve. The NAS Deluxe is sold at a price that varies between 25 and 40 US Dollars (February 2015).

Drinking Experience Neat: Disappointing and Below Average.  

Conclusion: Islay Mist is too strong a name for this Foggy Highlander. It's very tough to detect Laphroaig as the driving force of this Blend. It tastes and smells more like Grain Whisky blended with some young indifferent Highland Malt and a little Islay. On the Nose it's not too bad although the Islay component is not at all prominent. There's a bit more Smoke and Earth on the Palate and in the Finish but all in all Palate and Finish are too Thin, Young, Herbal and Edgy to impress. It somehow tastes like an unfinished Spirit. I will try to get some of the older expressions but this NAS Islay Mist does not work for me.

Jan van den Ende                                                           February 18, 2015

Talisker Port Ruighe Review

“Pepper & Port”

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland (Island: Skye)

Brand: Talisker Port Ruighe

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 45.8%

Colour: Golden Amber with a hint of Orange

Nose: A wisp of Salty Sea Air and Brine is accompanied by very mild Smoke, light Iodine, light Tar, light Leather, light Band Aids, Pencil Shavings, Dusty Road, Fish on the BBQ and a sprinkle of Lemon. Young Talisker indeed but in a more mellow way when compared to the Storm. I also find Plum Jam, Dried Fruits, Nuts, light Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Toffee, light Orange, Malt, Sour Red Grapes, Berries, light Menthol and light Soap. I don't think the Port Ruighe spend a whole lot of time in the Port Casks but the wood was sufficiently active to leave its mark. Not every Talisker fan will immediately fall in love with this Aroma Profile but it is a differentiated Talisker offering in their Core Range.

Taste: Slightly Thin Delivery despite the adequate ABV. It's quite Sweet and Spicy at the same time with Talisker Chili Pepper, Salted Nuts, Malt, Charred Oak, Tar, Campfire Smoke, Dusty Earth, Dried Fruits, Berries, Plum, Lemon, Orange Zest, Cocoa Powder, Ginger, Menthol and slightly Sour Red Wine.

Finish: Middle-Long. A bit similar to Storm but with a Fruity edge. I find Tar, Campfire Smoke, Brine, lightly Burned Bacon, Pepper, Orange Zest, Cocoa Powder, Black Coffee, Oak, Dried Fruits, Plum Jam, Toffee and Dusty Road.

I added a little Water and on the Nose I find more Campfire Smoke, Malt, Plum and Lemon. A bit more Campfire Smoke, BBQ and Plums on the Palate and in the Finish. But with Water it becomes a bit too Thin in my opinion. Therefore I prefer to sip this Talisker neat. 

Rating: 82.5

Nose: 21 – Taste: 20.5 – Finish: 20.5 – Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Talisker distillery is located in Carbost on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. It was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill and produces 2,6 million litres of Alcohol per year. It is part of the Diageo Group. The Talisker Port Ruighe was released early 2013 as the 2nd NAS Expression following Storm. The Port Ruighe matured in a mix of European and American Oak Refill Casks, of which some were deeply charred, before being finished in Port Casks. It costs around 70 US Dollars (February 2015).

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: In today's NAS world every distillery tackles the lack of older Whisky stocks in its own way. Talisker has opted to launch the Storm, a younger and less mature version of the 10 Years and the Port Ruighe, a mellow version of the Storm thanks to the Port Cask Finish. I would guess that both of them matured for 6-8 years before being married. The Port Ruighe was finished for 6-12 months in Ruby Port Casks. Both of them are not bad and the latter is nicely balanced. A good way to start getting to know this distillery. However, both the Storm and the Port Ruighe don't come near my favourite Taliskers, the 10 Years, the 18 Years and the Distillery Editions. And that's the NASty reality!

Jan van den Ende                                                           February 15, 2015