Ben Nevis 10 Years Old 2012 Cask #107 (Best Dram)

Bottled by Best Dram in 2022 as a 10 year old single cask release drawn from cask 107 of 2012 vintage Ben Nevis with 322 bottles distributed to the German market at cask strength of 55.3%. Best Dram is a German independent bottling project focused on hand selected single cask releases at natural strength.

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 red wine cask for 10 years of on site maturation.

Primary ester development sat alongside red wine cask chemistry. Red wine casks carry residues from extended grape skin contact, with tannins, ellagitannins from the oak, and anthocyanin pigments lending colour and grip. The result brings red berry, plum, and subtle spice, integrated with Ben Nevis's heavy, oily Western Highland character at 55.3%.