Ben Nevis 24 Years (1996/2020) - Sansibar
Ben Nevis is a distillery that is no longer an insider tip among connoisseurs. Independent bottlings in particular often enjoy a certain reputation, as they reveal interesting facets of this Highland distillery. Today we have a 24-years Ben Nevis from Zanzibar in our glass - a bottling with character?
The panel
Mean 77.5 · spread 1
Value for money 0/5
- Distillery
- Ben Nevis
- Bottler
- Sansibar
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 24 years
- Strength
- 43.9% ABV
- Character
- floral
Tasting
Nose
The nose welcomes us with a surprising lightness. Floral notes mingle with a gentle vanilla sweetness, accompanied by malty undertones and a hint of foliage. Gentle herbal flavours also resonate, giving the whisky a certain depth. The oak remains discreetly in the background - present, but by no means intrusive.
Palate
Here the Ben Nevis shows a completely different side. The oak is now clearly evident and brings a lovely spiciness with it. At the same time, a pleasant sweetness pushes forward - candy floss and a hint of stevia provide a slightly playful sweetness that harmonises wonderfully with the malty notes. An interesting contrast between strength and elegance.
Finish
The finish is of medium length and remains pleasantly warming on the tongue. The oak remains present without dominating. Not a dramatic finish, but a solid and pleasantly balanced end.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Ben Nevis is fun with its playful sweetness and subtle spice – a true companion for cozy evenings, even if it doesn’t set off fireworks. If you’re looking for straightforward Highland character, you can reach for this one without hesitation, though it doesn’t deliver any real surprises.
Sascha
A solid structure and balanced harmony define this 24-years Ben Nevis, which combines floral freshness with gentle oak spice. Technically flawless but lacking distinctive accents – a whisky for lovers of classic Highland profiles who aren’t expecting any experiments.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Ben Nevis as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £129 across 182 lots · 2024-08