A friend tipped me off to a stash of dusty Ben Nevis bottled way back in 2013.  Still hanging around in 2021. After Ben Nevis restarted operations in the very late 1980s the style changed a bit over the first few years. I’ve previous reviewed a 1991 release in sherry at cask strength, which had a very earthy and not necessarily easy going style. From 1992 through 1995 there were fewer independent releases before the huge number of casks released in 1996. This should show a bit of insight into the progression.

Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands

Color: 1.2 chestnut/oloroso

ABV:  46%

Nose:  Rich dried figs, ale, sourdough, pineapple, guava, loam, bark mulch, cocoa, cinnamon, sour, sweet, earthy, vanilla, cream, peaty earth, unusual fermentation esters which aren’t floral, fruity or

Palate: Big picture – a dirty graham cracker.  Loam, ginger, raisin, fig, coffee grounds, black pepper, apple, vanilla, maple syrup, on the development now a bit floral in the palate, cinnamon, clove, orange peel and the tropical fruits come cha-cha-ing in with some dried pineapple, guava, litchi, dragonfruit

Finish: Fairly long at medium intensity thanks to the sherry cask.  Maple syrup, ginger, black tea, coffee grounds, apple, guava, dragonfruit, whipped cream

Rating: 89

Summary: You can see this progression from the really earthy 1991 character to this 1992 where it’s still a bit more spicy and earthy but the big tropical fruits are starting to become a bigger part of the picture to 1996 where it’s tropical fruit lead with the earthy brewer yeast signature still in the background.