The new (European) Whisky Agency releases have arrived. These bottles are always in high demand and I know some people are looking for opinions to put their name on the waiting lists.
I did a quick poll on social media and most people are looking forward to the Irish Single Malt 1990, the Littlemill 1992 and this Ben Nevis 1996. Here we go.
Ben Nevis 23 yo 1996 (47,6%, The Whisky Agency 2020, hogshead, 264 btl.)
Nose: check. Classic waxy and creamy notes, with higher levels of overripe bananas, mango and melons this time, as well as chestnut honey on toast. Hints of sunflower oil and chalk. Sugary almond. Warm hay. Less citrusy this time. Even a hint of strawberries and cream after a while. Excellent.
Mouth: clean, with a peppery onset, then some sweet grapefruit juice followed by pollen, yellow flowers, nectar and guava. Also plenty of mineral notes, candle wax, hints of metal polish. Vanilla custard. Again a bit more on the creamy and warm side, hardly any passion fruits this time for instance. Subtle dried herbs towards the end.
Finish: long, waxy and slightly honeyed, with mineral notes and a peppery touch.
Another excellent Ben Nevis, this time with a little more warmth and less of the citrusy brightness (which I adore, I must say). The difference comes down to personal preference, in any case this is one the modern classics in whisky. One of the highlights in this batch. Around € 185.