Whereas presenting the redesigned Ben Nevis 10 12 months Previous in 2021, the distillery additionally debuted a brand new expression referred to as Coire Leis. Because the outdated model of the ten 12 months Previous grew to become fairly widespread sooner or later, we assume this new NAS launch was launched to take some strain away from older shares.
The identify comes from a lochan on Ben Nevis, offering water to the distillery. The black label mentions it comes from expertly chosen casks – first fill bourbon in keeping with most sources. There’s no age assertion however primarily based on the value (which isn’t removed from the ten 12 months outdated) and the casks obtainable to unbiased bottlers, I’d count on this whisky to be round 7-8 years of age.
Ben Nevis Coire Leis (46%, OB +/- 2021, first fill bourbon, L21)
Nostril: bare and mashy. Barley eau-de-vie with chalk and grassy notes, in addition to sourdough bread and a few plasticine. Later additionally lemon oils and a really gentle waxiness. Unripe pear. Floral yoghurt and buttery biscuits.
Mouth: stuffed with barley once more, with gristy notes, porridge and a delicate natural bitterness. Hints of grapefruit peels, unripe pear and ginger. A slight spirity contact as effectively. Bitter lemons, white pepper, wee oily notes.
End: good size, with extra chocolate and toasted oak.
The excellent news is that Core Leis is unmistakably Ben Nevis. It has a whole lot of the enjoyable(ky) notes which can be so widespread in younger indie bottlings. That stated, this attribute whisky can also be somewhat spirity and unsexy. Not a foul core vary expression, however nonetheless removed from the magical older variations. When you’re available in the market for a less expensive Ben Nevis, I wouldn’t ignore the MacDonald’s Celebrated Ben Nevis both. Accessible from The Whisky Alternate or Grasp of Malt for example.
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