Ben Nevis 24 Year (1996), Single Malts of Scotland Cask 1730
Whisky: Ben Nevis 24 Year (1996), Single Malts of Scotland Cask 1730
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 48.8%
Cask: Hogshead
Age: 24 Years (Distilled 1 Nov. 1996, Bottled 14 July 2021)
Nose: Mellow citrus and tropical fruits, hints of mint, white chocolate and dark fruits, light roasted coffee and warm wood.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, tropical fruits and citrus, grassy and dank herbs later on, orchard fruits, white chocolate, matcha, grass, pepper and wood at the end.
Finish: Medium to long with gentle pepper, herbal spice, and hints of citrus.
Score: 7 (85)
Mental Image: Gentrification at the Tropical Produce Market
Narrative & Notes: Mellow and fresh, the dram opened with subtle key lime pie, mint, and lychee— more white chocolate and cocoa dust hid further in with dark fruit jams. An upscale coffee shop came to mind with malty waffles cooking in the background, wooden countertops, and hints of light roasted coffee— all very mellow and mild on an aroma that was more like looking at a sepia-toned photo of a place than actually being there. Medium-bodied, though on the lighter side, with an initial burst of tropical fruits and citrus that slowly evolved into grassy matcha and dank herbs. A mix of longan, lychee, and green apples arrived with lime leaves and a touch of mugwort as tropical stone fruits shifted to acidic apples, and then herbs. More mint and white chocolate lingered at the end as mustier, grassy sugar cane debris and peppery wood lingered. The finish was medium to long with a gentle pepper, herbal spice, and hints of citrus.
Mellow on the nose and more lively on the palate, there was a good balance between fruits and herbs, that occasionally drifted in a slightly medicinal direction. Mugwort is great in desserts, but I think most people find it a bit medicinal. The dank herbal quality toward the end sometimes hit with a musty grassiness, like the pile of crushed cane next to a fresh cane juice vendor, and provided a subtle dirtiness to the malt and an old-fashioned edge to some of the fruits. The mouthfeel was wonderfully balanced and a touch juicier than some of the other 1996 Ben Nevis I reviewed this week.
Overall, somewhat restrained considering the reputation of the vintage, though most have been more austere than I expected. It was neither an earthy funk bomb, nor a tropical fruit bomb, though it certainly leaned toward the latter. I enjoyed it and appreciate the lovely evolution of the flavors, it was complex enough to sit and consider, but also mellow enough to just kick back and enjoy without care.
