2012 Single Cask Nation Ben Nevis 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A new charred hogshead has left its mark, both in colour saturation and aroma; Yet, Nevis' make shines through - elderflower and nectarine piercing the rich wood, becoming more salient with every pass. A similar story on the palate; initially a busy noise of oak and malt until the brightness of the exotic fruits and florals rise, gaining succulence and completely captivating the finish. Bitter oranges and nectarine linger. A novel maturation that pays dividends. Ben Nevis fans should jump on this! 241 bottles. 56.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 25ml sample.

Other reviews... In theory, Ben Nevis with its heft should be able to handle heavy char… Colour: dark amber. Nose: it’s got a recharred sherry feel to it, and everything clicks into place with precision – it’s simple (and simplicity is a virtue here) and compact (same comment), taking us close to a tin of assorted caramels from Rowntree Mackintosh. Remember those? For now the distillate stays a little shy, though water might coax it out. With water: no, still leaning on fresh wood and one can’t deny a hint of young bourbon about it. Mouth (neat): oh this is good! Much livelier than expected, all on oranges, pepper, salt and bitter almonds. Hints of cedarwood, pencil shavings etc., as expected. Excellent. With water: the distillate unfurls, though the whole remains pleasingly dry and bitter, the Ben Nevis DNA taking over once more. Finish: long and very dry. Cold black tea and pepper. Comments: there’s an old amontillado edge at the end, which is amusing. And very good of course – it’s from a cracking house. 87 points - whiskyfun.com

Founded in 2011 by good friends and affirmed whisky geeks Jason Johnston-Yellin and Joshua Hatton, Single Cask Nation began as a social fellowship and club. Today, they're considered one of America’s leading independent bottlers representing a unique global community of whisky geeks.