Rosencrantz
Ben Nevis 10 Year
Single Malt — Highland, Scotland
Reviewed
June 3, 2020 (edited January 23, 2022)
Nose very fresh and delicate, floral with balsamic touches (mint, even), accompanied by fruit (peach, apricot, apple) and cinnamon. Spice that opens in time to sherried hints, which gradually impose themselves with ripe plum, raisins in spirit, dark chocolate, a shade of coffee. Two souls that intertwine without stumbling, very interesting.
The alcohol content is optimal, it warms up without exceeding in the mouth letting the freshness of the aromas pamper the palate in a full and oily consistency, encouraging the spicy side (again cinnamon with a pinch of pepper) combined with a delicate caress of the wood. The balanced marriage between American and Spanish influences remains, with vanilla, chocolate, yellow fruit (even some pineapple), orange, plums and liquorice.
A rather long finish of orange, cinnamon, pepper, licorice and an impression of coffee.
What a masterful balance for such a young whisky! Now I understand the desperate search for a bottle by many, a valuable distillate that blends the barrels of maturation without any effort into a full and satisfying drink.
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@cascode and that's a real pity... over here in Italy is virtually impossible to find.
One of the hidden gems, this one is. Shhh - let's not spread the word. Nikka doesn't let them produce enough to go round.