Ben Nevis 2010 9 Year Un-chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

2011 to 2020 Sweetness lightness pear green apple, candy, high pep light delicate, pleasant thought 2.25 Peach, sweet apple, apricot, sweetness, not a highly complex but there is some substance — and saltiness mix, pleasant, slight wood and oaky 3 Mid sustain, very mild smoke, oaky 2.5 2.5 thin pear, fruit floral, pear apple green apple, apricot, high pep 2.25 floral fruity, light and thin sweetness, thin slight bitterness that is well and balanced, strawberry, apple, oak, 2.25 mid sustain oaky 2.25 2.25 Pear fruits, floral, high pep, vanilla, dry, 2 Sweetness pear, vanilla, apples , rich caramel, richness complex 3 Low sustain and quickly fades away 2.25 2.25

This is interesting. It’s an odd one, smelling a bit like white wine and the palate doesn’t blow you away with complexity. But it’s different. I could see giving this anywhere from 3-4 stars depending on my mood and taste for the day. But I keep coming back to it. There’s something mildly offputting on the nose...shades of turned white wine. But it only makes the taste better when you finally do take a sip. Lots of light fruit grounded by the 46% abv - getting apples, pear and a sweetness like beeswax with the honey still attached. The finish is short and not memorable. But it’s crisp. Kind of reminds me of a good hard cider. I don’t think I’d buy another but I’m glad I’ve had it and give some props to the IB for releasing this into the wild. Update: nearing the end of the bottle and I’ve finally gotten around to adding a little water - I’d held off since it’s so drinkable without it and I was fearing it would lose potency. A good reminder to always try a drop or two. It really improves the nose and unlocks some wooden spice that was hidden from me. It’s bordering 4 stars with a drop of water and it actually lengthens they finish a bit too. At less than $40 I’d buy this again.