Ben Nevis 1996 24 year (Single Malts of Scotland)

The nose begins with a blend of powdered sugar-dusted caramelized mangoes, kiwi, and dusty leather-bound books, followed by dark chocolate-covered golden raisins, honeycomb, freshly lit pipe tobacco, and light seaside minerality. It then transitions to nectarines, persimmons, and tangerine orange, leading to light baking spices and polished antique furniture with a medium ethanol burn. The taste presents a medium mouthfeel, starting with a mix of powdered sugar-dusted caramelized mangoes, pineapple, and dusty leather-bound books, then dark chocolate mocha, golden raisins, honeysuckle, freshly lit pipe tobacco, and light seaside minerality. It continues with peaches, limes, and tangerine orange, shifting to light baking spices and polished antique furniture with a medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length with caramelized mangoes, grilled pineapple, nectarines, black pepper, mild pipe smoke, honeysuckle, light sea salt, leather, and polished antique furniture. Overall, this is a delightful dram that is very fruit-forward with tropical fruits, underscored by well-aged oak, along with light sherry notes, mild smoke, and seaside minerality. It's incredibly well-balanced, with all the notes flowing harmoniously, and nothing out of place. It’s a wonderful and relaxing dram that I could spend hours with a bottle, sitting back, pouring a few glasses, and pondering its many facets. However, the flavors are unfortunately thinner than I would prefer, and I'd really like them to be a bit bolder and richer. Thanks so much for this tasty dram, my friend! I've never tasted a Ben Nevis before and will need to keep an eye out for them in the future.

The initial aroma is of apple with some spice and perhaps a hint of caramel, reminding me of apple pie. The palate is fruity with a medium body. The oak is well-integrated and doesn't dominate. Some floral notes appear on the finish. I've read that Ben Nevis underwent significant changes, affecting expressions from 1996 onwards, making this the oldest available from the "new era." While not an overpowering dram, I find it incredibly enjoyable and would be keen to sample other bottlings from this year, as some are reportedly even superior.