Ben Nevis 1997 Refill Sherry Hogshead Cask No.32 - Held In Bond At Ben Nevis Distillery

Ben Nevis 1997 Refill Sherry Hogshead Cask No.32 (56.4%)

The cask was regauged on 24/08/2020 and found to contain 188.90 bulk litres (106.43 ltr alc) at a cask strength of 56.4%, yielding around 269 x 70cl bottles at full cask strength (more, if diluted down).

The cask is currently stored in bond at Ben Nevis Distillery.

The successful winner of this lot will receive a certificate of ownership from the current UK Duty Representative. They will also have the option to change the UK Duty Representative.

Fees / Other costs to be aware of:

Storage Fees - £0.30 per week (£15.60 per year)
Cask Removal Fee - £36.00
Re-gauging - £36.00
Sample Request - £36.00

Bottling Costs / Removal from Bond

The cask is currently held in bond. Any costs relating to bottling or removal from the bond will be incurred by the new cask owner.

Once payment for the lot has been made by bank transfer only, the funds will be held by Just Whisky Limited, and only transferred to the seller once the buyer has received documentation and proof of ownership.

Tasting Notes - Supplied by Angus MacRaild (Whisky Consultant & Author)

Colour: White wine.

Nose: Quite classical for this age and distillery. A lean cereal profile complimented by soft waxes, citrons and a rather flinty and taut mineral aspect. Subtle aromas of hessian, fabrics and chalk, then olive oil, barley sugars and very light medical touches. Water opens the profile very pleasantly and enhances the oilier and textural impressions with more honey and wax tones.

Palate: Dry and still focussed on cereals, oils and putty. The waxes remain soft and the fruit components are dominated by bitter citrus oils and a few white stone fruits and pollen-heavy floral touches. Rather peppery and assertive in the mouth. Water retains the dryness of the spirit and again makes it fuller and more emphatically 'textural'. Although probably not technically better.

Finish: Medium, chalky, faintly medical and showing a good level of citric acidity and again a background waxy quality.

Comments: The cask influence here is very much more 'refill' than 'sherry'. However, with such characterful distillate this serves the whisky well. There is high level of distillery character retention and the overall texture, balance and quality come through well. Could be bottled now but would also easily continue to improve for a further five years.