Ben Nevis 20yo 1996 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml

700ml / 51.9%

This Ben Nevis 20 year old was distilled in 1996 and bottle for Sansibar in 2016 from a single cask producing 212 bottles.   Kept at cask strength of 51.9% this whisky is a great example of what can come with a Ben Nevis left to mature for so long.   At first the nose is sharp with varnish wafting out like opening a new container of shoe polish – good ways.   This dissipates in only a matter of a few moments and the true character of the whiskey starts to present itself stone fruit - mango, peach and apricot with a faint waft of sea salt dancing around.   The texture of the palate is rich and waxy with sweet notes of honey balanced with a slight bitterness reminiscent of an under ripe banana.   A long finish with spices like ginger and cinnamon hanging around with notes of orange citrus poking in and out as well.