DeinWhisky is back with three exclusives. The first one is an independent Ben Nevis 1998 bottled by The Whisky Jury. There’s also an interesting young Bowmore 2014 in the Old Particular series from Douglas Laing. The last one is an official Premium Cask release (rum barrel) from Arran.
Ben Nevis 26 yo 1998 (53,8%, The Whisky Jury for DeinWhisky.de 2025, refill hogshead #1559)
Nose: mostly tangerines and peaches, with some yellow plum and hints of light honey. A lot of marmalade too. Some sunflower oil and gorse, along with wool and grassy notes. Then subtle hints of aniseed and vanilla, as well as a specific hint of orange candy that I really like.
Mouth: nicely oily, with a bright and slightly more tropical kind of fruitiness, now also including mango and pineapple cubes. Oranges again, as well as pink grapefruit. Mid-palate the chalky / waxy side becomes more apparent, bringing soms white pepper and minty notes. Subtle drying notes of tobacco leaves in the end.
Finish: reasonably long, with lingering fruity hints (orange peels) and subtle oak spice.
This Ben Nevis profile comes close to Clynelish at times. A very nice fruity core and some typical mineral notes. Complexity seemed a little lower than its sister cask, but a very fine whisky anyway. Still available from DeinWhisky.
Arran 18 yo 2007 (54,3%, OB ‘Premium Cask’ for DeinWhisky.de 2025, rum cask #14-07, 240 btl.)
Nose: the sweetness of the rum is clear. Baked apples, some almond and melon, as well as green banana and light hints of mango over time. Then vanilla cake and hints of candied lemon peels. A bit of dusty spice and subtle spearmint, but maybe it’s actually some esters.
Mouth: sweet yellow fruits – banana stands out more now. This is coupled to a estery note, which makes it minty and spicy. You also get a mineral element. Lemon peels and some drying notes – the rum really takes center stage.
Finish: medium to long, with more rummy sharpness and spice while the fruitiness fades out.
If you love whisky and (Jamaican?) rum in equal measures, then this may be for you. Personally I think the rum is leaving a fingerprint that is a bit austere at times, taking away some balance. Exclusively available from DeinWhisky.de. Score: 86/100
Bowmore 11 yo 2014 (62,7%, Douglas Laing Old Particular for DeinWhisky.de 2025, refill barrel, 232 btl.)
Nose: subtle ashy notes, but mostly fruits with light honey and vanilla. Candied lemons, grilled pineapple, even a little kiwi acidity. Then a good pinch of salt, maritime air and minerals as well. The longer it stays in the glass, the bigger the ashtray gets. Firm hints of boxwood as well, even a little guano (first time in a whisky).
Mouth: oh, the expected fruits have less presence now. The roasted herbs and intense ashes have the upper hand. Still some boxwood, eucalyptus and rosemary stalks. Then some fruits appear (pink grapefruit, apple and lime) but it doesn’t burst open into tropical fruits like some older examples.
Finish: quite long and maritime, still herbal, with ashy smoke, chalky minerals and a gingery top note.
Quite good, even though it shows some uncommon elements and doesn’t have the opulant fruitiness we like so much in modern Bowmore. Nice to try such a young version. Only from DeinWhisky. Score: 86/100