Another 1996 Ben Nevis! The bottler for this cask was the Whisky Agency, a Germany outfit, with whom I have had a number of good experiences over the years. This particular cask was bottled for the Japanese bottler and importer Three Rivers.

---

Whisky: Ben Nevis 28 Year (1996), The Whisky Agency for Three Rivers Tokyo

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 45.1%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 28 Years (Distilled 1996, Bottled 2024)

Notes: Mellow tropical fruits, green grape jelly cups, and sidewalk chalk— it was a summer afternoon with warm concrete, vanilla cookies, and fruit juice. Austere at times, as many of these older Ben Nevis can be, with a touch of dried grass and marshmallow hiding in the background; a few drops of water brought a bit more juiciness to the fruits. Medium-bodied and oily on the palate, the flavors were more intense than the aroma, with plenty of green grape jelly cups, kiwi, and melon. The fruits popped and faded so that dried grass and some peppery spirit remained behind with chalk, minerals, dandelions, lemon drops, and soft wood. Lemon rind and cream cookies appeared at times as the whisky gradually became more drying. The finish was medium-length and drying with chalky minerals, soft wood, and hints of citrus rind.

---

Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Summer Chalk Art

Conclusion: The aroma was mellow, while the arrival on the palate was potent— I thought this might have been another overly austere 1990s Ben Nevis, but that fruity pop was everything I wanted. It faded a bit fast, allowing other more austere, oaky, or mineral layers to emerge, but that gave it the impression of summer fireworks— dazzling lights, but only for a moment. A few drops of water brought some of that juiciness to the aroma, while the palate remained malty with lemon cookies. Overall, fruity and fun.