Our New Private Bottling: Ben Nevis 1996/2023 26 Year Old Gommone Whisky (English version)

**In-Store Exclusive**

BEN NEVIS 1996 26 year old GOMMONE WHISKY SHOP 47.5%
2880 HKD I 700ml

Chinese Version, Korean Version

In recent years, independent bottlings (IB) of Ben Nevis have been exceptional. The releases from 1995 to 1998, although slightly different in style, have all garnered high praise.

Compared to the time-honoured and proven style of its official bottlings (OB), these IB Ben Nevis expressions are characterized by an abundance of fruitiness with an intricate and soft body. Among them, the stand out vintage is its 1996 distillate with its rich and charming fruit flavors, coupled with a lush and honeyed mouthfeel, making it the most talked-about distillery-vintage combination among whisky enthusiasts.

However, as time passes, these 1996 Ben Nevis bottlings are nearing thirty years of age. While they are more pricey, they showcase an evolved flavor profile, transitioning from a sweet and lively character to a matured yet multifaceted whisky, well-justifying the premium.

We have selected a cask of outstanding Ben Nevis distilled in 1996 that captures a moment of abundant fruitiness intertwined with nuanced complexity. It may not be the most fruit-forward Ben Nevis, but rather, we present a charming yet elegant, intricately-layered, and deeply profound snapshot that we felt compelled to preserve.

Once opened, this whisky takes on a renewed vibrancy, breathing new life into its tasting profile, revealing a depth of layers. We believe there is no specific moment of absolute peak, allowing whisky enthusiasts to explore and savor the most beautiful moment based on their own palates.

Furthermore, we have conducted comparative tastings with different types of glassware. Excluding some hard-to-obtain options, we recommend using the Lucaris Gran Sherried Whisky Glass to enjoy this whisky, as it helps to retain and prolong the aromas, showcasing its nuances.

We will offer a specialised bundle for a discounted price: 480 HKD on the Lucaris Gran Sherried Whisky Glass (Original Price:600 HKD) when purchasing a bottle of our Ben Nevis private bottle.

Ben Nevis 1996/2023 26 Year Old Gommone Whisky Shop #1540 47.5%

Tasting Notes:

Nose:

Initially restrained, with notes of sunflower oil and waxy richness, ripe pears, ripe peaches, creamy honey, and floral sweetness. Subtle hints of clay, chalk, and wooden complexity. Given time, it reveals more tropical fruits like green grapes, starfruit, white peach, ripe lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple, becoming softer and sweeter.

Palate:

Similar to the nose, it is dominated by an abundance of sweet fruits, with a full and rounded oily texture - classic traits of the 1996 Ben Nevis. Along with malt sugars, porridge, and flavors of wax, chalk, resin, wood, converge to form a more complete structure, imparting a unique matured charm and complexity to the whisky, inviting enthusiasts to savor and appreciate its subtle changes.

Finish:

Green fruits, olive oil, waxy notes, minerals, and a hint of pepper linger in a pure, refined, and prolonged finish.

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Distillery Overview:

Ben Nevis distillery is located at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles. Established by 'Long' John MacDonald in 1825, it was among the earliest distilleries to obtain a legal whisky license.

After navigating years of instability, the distillery came under the ownership of the Japanese giant Nikka in 1989. Rumors suggest that Nikka's 'Whisky from the Barrel' includes whisky distilled at Ben Nevis.

In terms of production, Ben Nevis stands out for using beer yeast in its fermentation process, coupled with slow distillation, resulting in a rich and full-bodied spirit. The malt is predominantly very lightly peated, with 5% heavily peated malt at 40ppm.

In my humble opinion, OB Ben Nevis tends towards a more traditional style, with some of the older expressions showcasing deep and intense fruitiness, accompanied by notes of leather, smoke, old wooden furniture, and old books, reminiscent of its sibling distillery in Japan, Yoichi.

On the other hand, the highly sought-after IB 1996 Ben Nevis expressions in recent years exhibit a very different style. Abundant fresh green fruit notes such as white grapes, peaches, and ripe pears, along with a luscious mouthfeel, are incredibly charming and appealing, exuding a great sense of amiability.

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Label Design:

Our label is created using a collage technique, where you can find the MacDonald family, founders of Ben Nevis distillery, the scenic landscape of the distillery, Nikka founder Masataka Taketsuru and his Scottish wife Rita, as well as the imagery of enjoying this whisky, akin to diving into a juicy pineapple ring surrounded by sweet fruity sensations.