Ben Nevis 10 Years Old 2013 Cask #136 (Dràm Mòr)

Bottled by Dràm Mòr in 2023 as a 10 year old single cask release drawn from cask 136 of 2013 vintage Ben Nevis with 180 bottles distributed to the European market at cask strength of 57.4%. Dràm Mòr is a small Scottish independent bottler founded in 2019 by Kenny and Viktorija MacDonald, based in Loch Lomond.

Distilled at Ben Nevis distillery in Fort William at the foot of the highest mountain in the British Isles, founded in 1825 by John "Long John" McDonald and owned by Nikka Whisky Distilling under Asahi Group since 1989. The wash uses unpeated malted barley with soft Allt a'Mhuilinn burn water from springs on the slopes of Ben Nevis, fermented for around 48 hours with brewer's pressed yeast in eight washbacks of stainless steel and Oregon pine. Ben Nevis runs two wash and two spirit stills, the wash stills tubular with plain deep bases, the spirit stills cone shaped with deep bases, all steam heated through shell and tube condensers. The spirit was filled into a single Palo Cortado sherry cask for 10 years of on site maturation.

Primary ester development sat alongside hybrid sherry chemistry. Palo Cortado begins as Fino under flor, then completes maturation oxidatively after flor death, layering Fino derived acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde with Oloroso style ellagitannin and rancio. The result brings almond, hazelnut, dried apricot, and polished wood, integrated with Ben Nevis's heavy, oily Western Highland character at 57.4%.