Part 10 of Reviews from The Single Cask Singapore
Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit, and I leapt at the chance to finally return again during my summer conference schedule. I resolved to do a bit more whisky tasting while I was in the country and use my extended stay to drop by new places and meet new people.
We returned to The Single Cask many times in Singapore; the first time was to check out the place (found in parts 1-4). However, the half dozen other trips, usually just for a dram, resulted from that great first experience. No doubt, the fact that we stayed half a block away for part of the visit and walked by Chijmes, the complex in which the bar sits, just about any time we left the hotel, also played a role.
The staff and owners were terrific; happy to talk whisky, explain the story behind different bottles, share some of their favorites, and offer suggestions for food, fun, or more whisky. I love how whisky brings people together and breaks the ice, especially for someone like me who, if you can believe it, happens to be somewhat introverted and a touch shy when not performing or speaking.
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: The Single Cask Ltd.
Region: Scotland/Highland Single Malt
ABV: 58%. Cask strength.
Age: 7 years. Distilled on 16 June 2014. Bottled on 14 Feb. 2022.
Cask type: First Fill Oloroso Quarter Cask. Cask 105.
Price: $23/40ml at The Single Cask Singapore.
Nose: Nougat, chocolate, caramel, hints of smoke and earth, caramelized pears, dry autumn vegetations, mulled wine spices, honey, kiss of rubber.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, roasted pear and honey, funky earth and sulfur briefly, caramel, nuts, chocolate, nougat, subtle cardamon and anise, hazelnut, chocolate, hints of vanilla and orange.
Finish: Long and lingering with caramel, nuts, and hints of chocolate.
Mental Image: Snickers Bar by Candlelight
Conclusion: An altar shrine dedicated to the Gods Mars and Snickers flickered in the lamplight as the scent of nougat, caramel, and milt chocolate filled the air with a wisp of earthy smoke. Caramelized pears and hints of meat introduced dried autumn vegetation, fallen leaves, and mulled wine with cardamon, cinnamon, anise, and a kiss of rubber. Medium-bodied, oily, and very viscous, the flavors on the palate mirrored the nose closely with an additional gust of funky earth and sulfur that quickly faded from view. Roasted pears and honey with ribbons of caramel, roasted macadamia nuts, chocolate, and nougat reinforced the idea of a Snickers bar or a fancier decadent dessert. Cardamon and anise led to hazelnut ganache and chocolate cake near the end, with more subtle notions of vanilla and orange. The finish was long and lingering with caramel, nuts, and hints of chocolate.
The bottle art is part of a series done by the crew in Singapore, all under the theme of Exploration using the visuals and aesthetics of space and electronic music. I was told this label reflected the black of space because it represented the beginning of the line, a space to be filled in over time by other bottles and releases. The art ramped up rapidly after this release, with tons of color exploding from the darkness and eventually the sun sperm label from my previous review. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
The whisky itself was very dessert-like and not at all the funk bomb I expected. We nosed the bottles a couple days before trying it and penciled it in as something we hoped to get to while still here. Heavily peated Ben Nevis can be a wild-earthy delight, and that was about what we expected after the initial nosing highlighted mud masks and hints of sulfur. Those notes were present but hidden beneath layers of candy bars and decadent desserts. I was surprised to hear from my wife that she enjoyed it and thought the viscous malt nicely balanced the rich flavors and notes.
Overall, I wanted something a bit dirtier, but this was really enjoyable for what it was. Going another direction with the description, I could imagine this also coming off as a battle between titans— the robust malt, big sherry influence, and an underlying vanilla-caramel oak from the quarter cask.
Final Score: 82.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 