There has been a delay in the reviews of the latest batch of Whisky Jury bottlings, but we’re set to go. Four rums will be featured in an upcoming session, but we’ll start with two interesting single malts: a Glen Keith 1992 (subtle sherry) and a more heavily sherried Ben Nevis 1997.
It’s been a while since we had Glen Keith. This year there was the Lost In Time release and now this Whisky Jury bottling. It is exclusive to the Asian market.
Glen Keith 1992 (42,3%, The Whisky Jury for Asia 2024, sherry cask #21728, 172 btl.)
Nose: nicely fruity, with classic yellow apples and tangerine but also papayas and banana cake. Then some spearmint and lovely waxy notes, honey and dried wildflowers. Some vanilla biscuits, mirabelles, along with candied ginger and a mild spiciness in the distance. Underlying minerals. Very pleasant.
Mouth: great combination of creamy notes (peach, honey) with brighter fruits (passion fruit, lime). Then vanilla, minty notes, lemon liqueur and a hint of fresh oak. Banana skins and just a nice hint of barley. Also hints of pollen and nut oil, still showing a nice waxiness as well.
Finish: long and fruity, with vanilla and floral notes, now also bringing along a hint of coconut and pine oil.
A very tasty and fruity Speyside whisky. While these casks used to be even fruitier when they were bottled ten years ago, they are now showing a lot of smaller notes that make them more complex. Really good.
Ben Nevis 1997 (46,5%, The Whisky Jury 2024, sherry cask, 187 btl.)
Nose: sour berries up front, always a good sign. Then this typical leafy earthiness, with somme dunnage notes and light concrete dust. Back to pink grapefruits. Some herbal tea. A whiff of thuja oil and leather in the background. Really nice.
Mouth: a tad funky at first, in a good way. It’s not a tropical fruit bomb but there are moderately Irish hints of pink grapefruit and blood orange. Nice chalky notes, something vaguely smoky even. Then tobacco comes out, with a little pepper and more leafy notes.
Finish: long, slightly herbal and dry, even a little salty, with the fruity sourness behind it.
You know I’m generally not the biggest fan of Ben Nevis from sherry casks. However this is one of the nicest 1997s I’ve had. Score: 91/10