Ben Nevis 2021 TCaH Peatwave (The Caskhound)

Bottled by The Caskhound in 2025 as a 4 year old single cask release drawn from cask 13 of 2021 vintage Ben Nevis with 392 bottles distributed to the German market at high cask strength of 60.6%. The Caskhound is a German independent bottler 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 Merlot wine cask for 4 years of on site maturation.

Early stage maturation showed Merlot wine cask chemistry. Merlot casks carry residues from extended grape skin contact with this Bordeaux variety, with soft tannins, ellagitannins from the oak, and anthocyanin pigments lending plum, blackberry, and cocoa character. Integrated with Ben Nevis's heavy, oily Western Highland character at 60.6%.