Single Cask Nation Ben Nevis 8 Year

As some of you know, I’m a huge fan of single cask bottles, so naturally I’m a huge fan of Single Cask Nation. This 2009 Ben Nevis 8 year was my first introduction into Single Cask Nation, and it didn’t disappoint. We don’t know much about the dram, other than it spent eight years maturing in a first fill oloroso butt. It was bottled in January of 2017 at cask strength packing a punch at 64.8% ABV.

BOTTLE INFO

Distiller: Ben Nevis
Bottled By: Single Cask Nation
Region: Highlands
ABV: 64.8%
Outturn: 622 bottles
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask Type: First fill oloroso butts
Age: 8 Years
Chill Filtered: No
Color Added: No
Color: Auburn/Mahogany

TASTING NOTES

Glass for Review: Spiegelau Nosing Glass
Nose: Nutty and buttery with lots of butterscotch, complemented by toffee and marzipan. Just a hint of spice 
With H₂O: More toffee and an appearance of nutmeg
Palate: Huge punch of lip tingling alcohol. Once you get past the alcohol, the palate transforms into sherry, marzipan notes take over the palate with a hint of chocolate malt.
With H₂O: The palate loses complexity and becomes flat; nutty and spicy notes left.
Finish: Lots of nut butter in the finish. Cashews and sweet roasted nuts, toffee and a linger of cocoa.
With H₂O: Flat, drying, nutty.
Overall: If the Glenmorangie Signet had a long lost cask strength brother, this might be it. Definitely do not add any water to this dram; water seems to mute a lot of the notes and complexity becoming overwhelming nutty.

Average Price: $95 USD