Tasting lab: Ben Nevis 11 Year Old, 2011 (Hepburn’s Choice)
Sip at a summer picnic, friends all around
Whisky name: Ben Nevis 11 Year Old, 2011 (Hepburn’s Choice)
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region: Highlands
Age / Release: 11yr, 2011
ABV: 46%
Price range: £70
Hot take:
This light-ish dram conjures summer evenings and groups of friends chatting in the sunlights. It’s delicate enough for casual sipping and the development of more complexity as it breathes adds a bit of party flare.
Tasting Notes + Scoring Grid
Flavour chemistry breakdown
Production notes
Ben Nevis is a staple of the Highlands, licensed in 1825 and sitting just outside of Fort William. It may have closed for a tick in 1908, but new owners ramped production back up in 1955, introducing a Coffey still. Nikka (Japan) bought the distillery in 1989 and continues to run it today. This dram was distilled in 2011 and matured the whole time in one sherry butt cask. As a member of the Hepburn’s Choice range (blended from single casks or small batches), it comes from one of 880 bottles and has no colouring or chill filtration.
Context + commentary
The citrus hit of this lighter dram calls for a summer day with friends. As a simple sipper, it would make an amazing picnic companion for the adults as kids run off to play in the park. The vanilla, as it floats above the rest of the flavour and lingers, creates a comforting effect, inviting drinkers to share and reminisce.
Food pairing: Goat’s cheese with a honey drizzle for start, a comforting roast chicken with orange and thyme for a meal.
Companion dram: Aberlour 12 (Double Cask Matured) will bring in sherried raisin and richer nutmeg spice, contrasting the light orange-vanilla sweetness with deeper fruitcake notes.
Cultural note: With its bright vanilla and orange tones, this dram reflects a modern taste for lighter, approachable whiskies…heirs to the “lunchtime dram” once favoured by city merchants.
Score / Verdict
Score: 70/100
Verdict: Light and elegant and perfect as a party gift to be enjoyed by a group catching up and reliving the good ‘ol days. Summer or late spring picnics of back garden cooks love to see this one coming.
P.S.
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