Ben Nevis 25yo

An intense and very mature single malt from the western Highlands, a rare old gem from this distillery with a 30 months finish in first fill Oloroso. Dominated at the nose by wild sunny notes of tropical fruits (passion fruit, grapefruit, pineapple), it’s only marginally winey: the influence of the sherry simply enhances the fruity character, adding overtones of balsamic vinegar, spicy nuttiness and a dry touch that balances the fruits. The same overwhelming character of tropical fruits is obvious from the first sip, with the addition of a hint of ripe cantaloupe: it’s very chewy, very rich and mouthcoating, but again with a markedly dry and astringent note to complement the sweetness. Towards the end, it gets spicier and spicier, with a mineral note and vibrant oak tannins.