Chorlton Ben Nevis 16yo

THE HOLY SPIRITS VIEW

A single second-fill barrel from one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries, now in Japanese hands. It is the sister cask of the 14-year-old Chorlton bottled a couple of years ago, a little older and at a more drinkable strength. Clean, coastal and fruity rather than heavy, with 277 bottles to go round.

THE DISTILLERY

Ben Nevis sits at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, just outside Fort William, drawing its water from the Allt a’Mhuilinn on the mountain itself. Founded in 1825 by “Long John” McDonald, it has been owned by Nikka since 1989, and around a third of its new make still goes to Japan for Nikka’s blends.

THE WHISKY: BEN NEVIS 16 YEAR OLD

A single second-fill barrel, bottled by independent Chorlton Whisky at natural cask strength, 52.8% ABV, with no chill-filtering and no added colour. 277 bottles.

TASTING NOTES

Clean, coastal, gently fruity. Lime juice, blueberry muffins, candlewax, rose petals, green pepper, banana milk. Palate opens on lemon, white peach, bilberry, mint, then turns salty, a flicker of tropical fruit, honeysuckle, salted liquorice. Tons of distillery character, very easy to drink, a trace of Ben Nevis’s coastal side coming through. Lovely.

Serve: Neat, in a Glencairn glass.