Ben Nevis Càrn Mòr Vintage Collection 1997 / 2009
How about another Ben Nevis?
This is a fairly young 1997 from the Carn Mor Vintage Collection range, that means 6 years after Nikka took over the distillery in 1991.
Try as I might, I cannot find much information on how Japanese ownership has changed the distillation regime at Ben Nevis, so we’ll just have to let the spirit speak for itself.
Ben Nevis Càrn Mòr Vintage Collection 1997 / 2009, Hogshead, Cask 252, 46%
Nose: Well, not repulsive, but it is somewhat strange: White oak and vanilla woodiness, fairly expected, but a mashy cooked vegetable/boiled potatoes big body-ness. Some crushed herb leaves and fresh grass, menthol balm even, but such a strange combination. Very faint fruitiness after some time. Dusty.
Palette: Herbal sour zinginess. Like a puckering liquer. Chewy again – vegetable soup savouriness. And rooty. There’s some faint fruit again but turns bitter towards the finish.
Finish: Shortish. Malt, and bitter herbs.
Strange strange whisky, its not thin nor light, in fact rather chewy and big boned, real blending stock this one.. I might have it with potato soup and dumplings.
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