Ben Nevis 17 Years Old 1996 Fidra (55.5%, Lockett Bros, Oloroso Butt & PX Cask Finish, 120 Bottles, 2014)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Ben Nevis Distillery
• Bottling: Morrison & Mackay for Lockett Bros
• ABV: 55.5%
• Cost: £65

What they say:

Our latest bottling of our Island label single cask whiskies. This time a Ben Nevis 17yo Single Sherry Butt. Distilled 5th December 1996 and bottled 16th June 2014. Matured in an Oloroso sherry butt and finished for 3 months in a fresh Pedro Ximenez cask. 120 bottles and bottled at Natural Cask Strength 55.5%

Tasting notes from Pilgrim77 on Whiskybase

Powerful and rich sherry dominate the nose, with dark berries and prunes alongside honey, old leather, walnut oil, dark chocolate, a hint of pomegranate molasses and something meaty, and spicy mulled wine. Also a waxy aspect to it that I really like. Awesome nose! Water opened it up further and allowed more of the spicy notes through. Very well balanced on the palate, with the sweet fruity sherry aspect an ideal counterpart to crushed black pepper, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts and a lovely waxy mouth feel. Medium length finish that is quite drying, but stops short of bitterness. Great cask selection from the chaps at Lockett Bros!

What I say:

Sampled on a couple of occasions in store, I was blown away the first time I tried this and bought a full bottle, after trying it again I bought a smaller 5cl miniature to perform this review and save my bottle for a special occasion. From the first nose/sip this struck me as one of the most perfect (for my palate) whiskies I had tasted in quite some time. An unusual double-sherried maturation with both Oloroso and PX influences.

Colour:

Copper gold (12/20), quick fine tears and legs

Nose:

Rich chocolate, dark cocoa, slight cinnamon and nutmeg spice, dried fruits, nutty walnut, mocha coffee, chocolate covered raisins & hazelnuts, some juicier fruits, plums

Taste:

Rich dark chocolate with a hint of mint choc chip ice cream, treacle, molasses, leather, cigar boxes, tobacco leaf, rich toffee, chocolate fudge, tablet, Christmas cake, sherry trifle, mince pies and chocolate-coated nutty mixture, almost a wisp of smoke

Finish:

Medium-long, drying cocoa beans & dark chocolate covered coffee beans, fruit & nut chocolate bars

Overall:

Wow wow wow! Christmas dipped in chocolate!

Score: 94/100

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