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Ben Nevis is a brand of single malt whiskey from the Highland region of Scotland. The distillery is located at the foot of the mountain of the same name and produces strong drinks with a sharp and intense taste, dominated by peat, honey and heather shades. The most popular releases are whiskeys aged 10 and 25 years. The brand belongs to the Japanese company Nikka.
Historical information
The distillery was founded in 1825 by John MacDonald, a descendant of the rulers of the ancient Scottish kingdom of Argyll, located in the western part of Scotland. The entrepreneur was very tall, which is why he received the nickname Long John. Subsequently, a brand of blended whiskey was named after him, the main part of which for a long time was Ben Nevis.
After the death of the first owner, the management of the company passed to his son. In 1878, he built another enterprise, called the Nevis Distillery. Subsequently, the capacities of the distilleries were merged, and they operated as a family business until 1955, when the company was acquired by former Canadian bootlegger John Hobbs. During this period, the distillery introduced the method of continuous distillation, which made it possible to produce both grain and single malt whiskey at the same time.
The end of the 70s was unsuccessful for the company due to the acute crisis that engulfed the industry. The capacities had to be mothballed twice, in total the plant was idle for six years. In 1989, the company was acquired by the Japanese company Nikka. As a result, production was divided into two directions – for the Japanese and Western markets. In 1991, the distillery opened a visitor center.
Production features
Currently, the plant produces about 2 million liters of whiskey per year. Water is brought from the mountain lake Allt a’Mhuilinn. The distillery has abandoned the use of wooden containers for fermentation, fermentation takes place in a modern large stainless steel vat.
The distillation cubes at the enterprise are quite voluminous and are designed for 25 liters of wort. Due to their size, distillation in them is slow, which gives the finished product sharp and spicy notes. Noteworthy is the packaging of Ben Nevis – whiskey with the age of 25 years is poured into souvenir ceramic bottles of an unusual shape.
Interesting Facts
- The founder of the company, John McDonald, believed that raw materials for whiskey were no less important than good equipment and proper distillation. In his memoirs, he wrote: “There can be no doubt that water is the main thing. On Ben Nevis, I was lucky to find a permanent and permanent source of clean water in two small lakes.”
- The visitor center is open in one of the distillery’s old warehouses. An audio-visual presentation about the mythical giant Hector McDrum was organized for the guests of the enterprise, after which a tour of the workshops is held. The tour ends with a tasting at a restaurant serving national Scottish dishes.
Types of Whiskey Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis 10 years old, 46%
An amber-colored drink with pear, grape, fresh white bread and vanilla aromas. The taste is soft and enveloping, there are hints of tropical fruits, dried apples and orange, heavily flavored with dark chocolate. In a long and delicate aftertaste, notes of strongly brewed tea and black pepper are distinguished.
Ben Nevis 25 years old, 56%
Dark amber colored whiskey is distinguished by a complex aromatic bouquet, which harmoniously combines dried fruits, chocolate, nuts and spices. Baked apples, orange, pineapple and coffee are felt on the palate, peppery and subtle smoky notes add spiciness. The aftertaste is dominated by oak tones.
