Ben Nevis 10 Year Old 2010 SWMS 78.43 Dark Side Of The Honey Spoon

'Dark Side of the Honey Spoon'... who comes up with these things? That's what the boys and girls of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society do for each of their bottlings, because the name of the distillery is not on the label. Not that it's a big secret, though. This is a 10-year-old Ben Nevis. But 61.9%? Maybe just keep some water on hand.

Yes, that honey is immediately and unmistakably present on the nose, but there is much more going on. I have sultanas, apricot jam, mango and coconut rocks. Let it breathe for a moment and you will imagine yourself on a tropical island. Delicious!

Well, if you approach it with respect, water is not really necessary. Deliciously waxy on guimauve (yes!), cotton candy, honey (and quite a bit too), currants, sultanas and a lot of licorice. Midpalate a soft spiciness appears in the form of white pepper and some drying quinine.

In the finish it becomes – if you think away the pepper for a moment – sweet as wine gums. It's not a punishment at all, though. Nice and long and satisfying.

Thank you very much for the sample, Gunther!

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