Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional

Overall rating
85.83/100
votes
491
Whiskybase ID
WB29966
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Barcode
5026673000616
Added on
27 jan 2012 10:13 pm
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by BenNevis
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan
Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional
Photo by alex..w..fan

Average value

€ 140.10

Found 7 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 94.50
Denmark Fine Drams € 113.00
Italy The Whisky Roundabout € 125.00
Scotland Old & Rare Whisky £ 199.99
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Whisky reviews for Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional

59 users have left 67 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 85.83 points.

  1. LDB scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Very tasty, but dangerous to drink ... The smoke is not medicinal, but spicy.
    • Nose
      85 85
      Sweet sherry nose with a dose of smoke that I can't classify yet, but which is very flattering.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Extremely round, balanced mouthfeel, fat and oily, as you know it from the old Nevis 10 standard bottling, with a neat smoky strawberry note.
    • Finish
      85 85
      The finish is then with a pronounced herbaceous smoke - Hermann Löns, the heather cracks - uh, the Highlands are burning

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  3. WhiskeryTurnip scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    The aroma was rich and meaty, with a lovely earthiness that slowly developed toward chocolate malt and an old burnt-out campfire. The richness peaked with a satisfying meatiness, occasionally a bit gamey when iron-like notes appeared, but otherwise in line with meaty burnt ends. With hints of dried vegetation, one taster suggested tumbleweeds as stewed stone fruits arrived with bubbling clay— a resort spa mud-bath? The profile centered smoke with a burning oak campfire at first, slightly more acrid green wood on the mid-palate, and sweet pine at the end. Between the clouds were earthy notes of red dirt, clay, and subtle red berries. Occasionally lactic with a slight sour quality, the finish was otherwise clean and smokey with hints of berries.

    This fun bottle snuck into a vintage whisky tasting our local club did this past summer. It was bottled about a decade ago by Ben Nevis as an homage or recreation of the more heavily peated whisky style the distillery produced at the end of the 19th century. It was not quite vintage and definitely the most recently released bottle we poured during the tasting. Still, the label looks old, and we needed some peated whisky to help fill things out.

    Overall, this was undoubtedly the best peated Ben Nevis I have tried. It had a lot of fans during our tasting, and almost everyone rated it in their top two bottles of the event. The occasional hints of something more acrid or sour on the flavor profile were enjoyable and felt well-integrated into the broader profile, so there was nothing off about this whisky. I am curious what it would taste like at cask strength; though it had a great body and finish at 46%, I wonder if the higher proof would intensify the generally clean flavors or muddle the whole affair.

    Mental Image: Mud bath under Autumn Leaves
    • Nose
      Earthy, chocolate malt, old campfire, meaty burnt ends, bubbling clay, stewed stone fruit, hints of dried vegetation and iron.
    • Taste
      Medium-bodied with burning oak, mellow earth, clay, dried wood, lactic with a slight sourness, berries, earth and chimney smoke lingered at the end.
    • Finish
      Medium-length with wood smoke and berries.

  4. BehindSpace scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      82 82

  5. Petitcham scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Pretty strong Highlands peat and smoke, a little oily, a relatively heavy body, a feeling of fresh grass

  6. tancerz11111 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    86.5 points
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  7. willas4147 scored this whisky 86 points Newbie

    I find it a delicately smoked whisky with a lovely "fresh" taste to it.

  8. Tordeaux scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  9. Thoma scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    I found this very tasty so I immediately thought that I have to show it to my whisky lover friends. Definitely worth to share.
    • Nose
      85 85
      At first nosing it reminds me of some powder, citrus flavoured drink mix of my childhood, ascorbic acid, then strong citrus notes. After 10 minutes aired I can smell that classic Ben Nevis style - smoke and earthy aromas but here we get some sweetness and citrus as well.
    • Taste
      85 85
      Sweet dough, vanilla, dried grass, dusty flavours - this is delicious! Getting dry after a few sips, not too strong in alcohol for me, but smoky. At the end there is that oily taste from the garage, woody, dirty and starts to bite.
    • Finish
      84 84
      Oh, ashy and smoky, very pleasant and long.

  10. elipszis scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
      clay
      rubber
      oily
      lemon + salt
      peach
      nettle
      whipped cream+pineapple
      red apple
      chocolate
      caramel
    • Taste
      89 89
      charcoal
      metal
      crushed salt
      black pepper
      earthy
      oily
      honey
    • Finish
      89 89
      cedar tree
      intensifying pepper
      nettle

  11. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Great stuff, interesting take on the normal Nevis. Additional slight smokiness works well and gives an extra layer of complexity. Recommended!

  12. qzek scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    I like it for the smoked plum smell and taste

  13. Chesterfield scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      87 87

  14. robain scored this whisky 87 points Specialist

    • Nose
      86 86
      little bit closed on the nose, smoke, some sweat, sour(?)
    • Taste
      87 87
      cigarette ash, smoky, sour wood
    • Finish
      87 87
      same as taste.

  15. rolabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

  16. Mortar1703 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  17. keizerjos scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Sherry, some dry aftertaste, fruity and pepper. Ben Nevis 10yo is already a very affordable OB, this is a lot younger but does not have to be ashamed of anything. If you like brave, spicy-sweet whisky with balls and character, then you absolutely cannot ignore Ben Nevis. Buy that stuff; the price / quality ratio is extraordinary - and it probably won't stay that way.

  18. gopro scored this whisky 85 points Member Junior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  19. Wolv scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      83 83

  20. hawk31 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Nose: First thought goes somehow towards Springbank 10, this slightly smoky and salty sends me first in the wrong distillery. He has bright fruits with vanilla, light citrus and honey. Peach with a nice nut and milk chocolate. My first impression of salt disappears. The nose is quite simple knitted.

    Taste: very sweet, oily, nice intense taste with light smokiness, bacon, honey, caramel. I'm standing on whiskys that are just intense in taste, are more in the minority. Oranges, oak, a bit of dark chocolate. I stand on the smoke percentage, I would compare the intensity with Springbank, less than Talisker, more than Highland Park.

    Finish: Medium long, sweet, strong honey, bright fruits, mild oak, dark caramel. The smoke resonates, the oak disappears.

    He very much reminds me of the character of the Ben Nevis 10, which did not make me feel so warm. The Mcs I like better, even if the nose is quite monotonous.

  21. gallfux did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Surprisingly good malt. Some meat from the smoker. Then a campfire, in which one has just thrown a bunch of flowers. Then then sourer sweet and sour notes. Also some forest floor. Finally, the wood becomes noticeable.

    Good to drink, moderately smoky malt. He is not wrong.

  22. Bam scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Beautiful, harmonious whisky with a fairly clear smoky note, at about Talisker level (maybe 20ppm). Not really complex, but delicious.
    • Nose
      Sweet, yellow peach and yet quite strong smoke, reminiscent of a hot, clean burning log fire. Garden herbs and subtle oak spice.
    • Taste
      Silky mouthfeel. At first the 'clean' smoke and the yellow peach again. Then come vanilla and all sorts of spices from Annie and Kardermon to garden herbs.
    • Finish
      Long, characterized by smoke and oak, slightly kräutrig, and a bit of the peach and vanilla.

  23. HwiskyNut scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    22 + 22 + 22 + 21 = 87 as for 5 years, then a great batch

  24. LukasJakubDrabek scored this whisky 85 points Shoplink Moderator

    Very pleasant surprise and adept for the whole bottle. Quite similar to Ardmore. (Evaluated on a sample basis - this was a numbered edition.)
    • Nose
      As the first light smoke. Tobacco, cigar and smoked meat.
    • Taste
      Beautifully full and rounded. Slightly smoke, coffee, honey, hot pepper, butter biscuits, yolk cream. Adding water highlights sweetness.
    • Finish
      Rather drier. Dark chocolate and grass scape.

  25. wisekyofcourse scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    A Scottish 5 years old, to follow!
    • Nose
      very fruity, on exotic fruits, on banana, on mandarin on cooked apple!
      soft smoke
      caramel, a buttered side too!
    • Taste
      peppery spices,
      pretty bland!
      the fruits are not so present, there is more honey there, and malt
      the smoke gives way to peat both dry and sooty and earthy!
    • Finish
      cold smoke, peat well present, but also discreet
      fruits again on tropical fruits, but less forward!
      caramel and vanilla.

  26. KayMeertens scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Cherry, peat smoke, apple, malt and caramel.
    • Taste
      Ashy peat, caramel, apple
    • Finish
      Peat, caramel, dark chocolate, apple and cherry.

  27. Kensay scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    young nevis, not bad in aromatics, vanilla, pastry sweets, svezhepilennaya board
    light bourbon, sweet
    the aftertaste is delicate and not very long.

    nice young nevis

  28. Whiskywobbler scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    This peated Ben Nevis brings some enjoyable moments, however, when you have had your share of non-peated Ben Nevis it slightly disappoints. I miss the complexity and some of the typical Ben Nevis notes.
    • Nose
      86 86
      There is lots of roasted meat, in particular roasted ribs, and pulled meat with sweet sauce. In addition, scents of oils and minerals in the background. It is different and characterful, something I often find in Ben Nevis, although the nose is not overly complex. Sunflower oil, crab, and after a while slightly more fruits (oranges), and vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and barbecued paprika. All veggies are covered with hoisin sauce and oyster sauce. In between there is also a sweet hint of butterscotch.
    • Taste
      86 86
      On the palate the peat goes much more towards coal dust and cigar ashes, mixed with a tiny bit of lime skin scrapings. Wait a little while and you find more oranges, orange sweets, and much less smoke. The palate is less meaty compared to the nose, although I certainly find hints of barbecued meat or chicken skin. The palate is also better balanced with more lime skin, some orange skin, lime skin acidity more to the front, bonfires smoke.
    • Finish
      85 85
      The finish is reasonable long with bonfire smoke, smoked oranges, and buttered toast.

  29. Totoro scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Not a lot of wood on the nose, unsurprisingly so given the age (around 5 years). Indeed some peat aroma, along with smoked bacon, coal smoke and charcoal (from the barrels?). Ashy, dark, autumnal. A leathery note along with some nice mustiness and sweet, overripe, decomposing windfall: damsons and, perhaps, pears (no sign of the peaches I so often find in Ben Nevis). Some oils and metal polish, i.e., "workshop aromas". With time, a herbal aspect develops. (thyme, cress). Okay, okay, I have to admit, this is well-done and very complex for its age.

    Starts smoky-ashy and oily on the tongue, almost like a somewhat defused Laphroaig. Then the herbal elements increase - I distinctly get sage and perhaps a hint of rosemary. Very savory, all in all. Meaty, umami flavors. Maybe I'm imagining things, but I'm almost certain I detect a generous portion of cask char in this. The last time I got this was with the Glen Scotia Victoriana, another excellent old-style NAS bottling (of which, needless to say, there aren't many). Little to no fruit on the palate, apart from some faint acidity you could dub "citrus" if you had a mind to, and some residual sweetness that you could liken to fructose if you absolutely wanted to.

    Long finish, due to the smoke, but some caramel and, surprisingly: sweetness also lingers. Very pleasant.

    On the whole, this is a rather dry affair, powered by peat-smoked malt and (I'll go ahead and guess:) heavily re-charred casks. I love it, but wouldn't recommend it to fans of fruity whiskies. Also, I wager, not a whisky that you'll have a lot of on any given night; this is more of the kind of hearty pick-me-up that you have one dram of after returning from a walk in rainy and/or cold weather.

  30. mr.p9 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  31. karloff scored this whisky 86 points Specialist

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  32. karloff scored this whisky 86 points Specialist

    I must admit on my quest to try every Scottish distillery I've avoided Ben Nevis like the plague. I needn't have worried. I rather like this and it's thanks to Peatbogger for the sample.
    • Nose
      Quite earthy to start off with and I mean fresh soil . The smokiness is quite subtle. Brown shoe polish or Barbour jacket wax. Kiwi fruit, toasted bread with apricot jam on it. There is something old there but I can't quite put my finger on it.
    • Taste
      The smokiness sits in the background and lets the fruit flavours take the stand. Citrus fruits like orange,lemon and again kiwi fruit. It sits in the mouth like a fruity cough sweet actually. There is also a nice woody texture. Now and again the smoke just lets you know it's there.
    • Finish
      The finish is where the smokiness takes the stand and the fruit flavours take a back seat. Quite good.

  33. didi1893 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    For a Ben Nevis this Traditional is amazingly smoky and peaty, so smoky or peaty I did not remember Ben Nevis. Otherwise, the earthy, musty peat flavors harmonize very well with the subtle smoky notes and the partially present fruity sweetness. Still peaty smoke and creamy woody notes stick to the palate, subtle sharpness envelops the tongue, it seems as if the aftertaste never end. Although this Ben Nevis is sometimes relatively thin, it often shows its voluminous and powerful side, I like it well.
    • Nose
      Wonderfully shiny amber radiates from the Premium Snifter, oily drops drift along the glass wall. In the first nosing slightly Sprittiger alcohol stands out, slowly slightly musty roasted aromas appear. Dark raisins and apricots in rum appear for a brief moment, then velvety vineyard peach dominates in combination with slightly dirty peat. Here and there are smoky elements, the initial fruitiness is lost in dark earth tones. Abrasion of orange peel flashes, sweet fruit notes rise from the dark and peaty soil, hints of slightly burnt wood and dried walnuts follow. Slightly acidic fruit components stand out, they could be citrus fruits.
    • Taste
      Peaty and earthy, the Ben Nevis spreads on the first sip on the palate. White pepper creates a subtle sharpness on the tongue, dark and spicy wood tones combine with slightly musty and earthy moder. The initially very subtle smoke aroma becomes more intense and dominant, old walnuts fall into freshly squeezed lemon juice, creamy and soft spicy wood tones spread on the tongue. Sant and soft the second sip flows over the tongue, sweetness and fruit play together before decent sharpness spreads on the tongue again. Chubby warmth floods the entire mouth area, here and there the alcohol shows its powerful side. Chubby warm with tart earth and wood tones, the taste slowly turns into the aftertaste.
    • Finish
      While the heat slowly fades away, a small pinch of pepper settles over the tongue, spicy and slightly tart wood elements are distributed with dark walnuts on the palate. A creamy and oily mouthfeel arises, sweet fruit notes show up, slightly smoky wood elements stick to the palate. Long remain smoky elements and dark wood tones in connection with dark walnuts in memory.

  34. peatbogger scored this whisky 86 points Specialist

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  35. peatbogger scored this whisky 86 points Specialist

    Very nice retro design, and the whisky is nice too.
    • Nose
      First sniff reminded me of a Springbank. It's got some of that "dirty old school" nose to it.

      Gentle peat, pencil lead, peach, some banana and a herbal mix.

      Some citrus (orange peel) and grassy notes emerging down the glass.
    • Taste
      Very pleasant creamy arrival.

      Easy drinkable at 46%

      A lot simpler than the nose.

      Mix of peat and dry coal smoke. Mineral. Starting kind of sweet but going into bitter orange chocolate.
    • Finish
      About medium lenght, quite dry chewing tobacco with mild spice.

  36. Alex Fridays scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Sweet, delicate peated smoke, dark chocolate, dates, figs, coffee beans, oil, vanilla ice-cream notes on nose.

    Light peated smoke, sweet fruits, oak cask, caramel and vanilla ice-cream notes on palate.

    Vanilla, light peated smoke, dust, chocolate, cream notes on long finish. 

  37. Hvdree scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  38. stefsel111 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      85 85

  39. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Amazing peaty and pretty "dirty". I think it's great that you did not try to tinker with the youth, but add so many great flavors that the youth does not bother any more and somehow adds up to the overall picture. I like the sooty peat.
    • Nose
      Dirty, sooty peat smoke, sweet sherry, tobacco & leather, a youthful fruitiness, yet earthy, spicy, nutty notes, with some bitter orange. A nose that you adore the youth, but still holds many great flavors.
    • Taste
      Similar to the nose, earthy peat smoke, slightly sooty, oily, spicy and fruit, not chewing youth, but full of delicious aromas. Sherry, fruit, peat, soot, leather. Amazingly diverse.
    • Finish
      Here first etzwas used gum, then some sherry sweetness, a certain woody spice, etas root vegetables, but the peat notes last a long time.

  40. ctu scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    A real old school highlander. Compared it's age, it's well mature and surprisingly peaty. Great value for money.
    • Nose
      Sherry. Banana, orange peel, honey, anise and salted minerals. Touch of earth and peat.
    • Taste
      Sweet, peaty. Honey, citruses, apple, milk caramel and smoke.
    • Finish
      Medium length, bittersweet.

  41. dRambo scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  42. dRambo scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    looks much older than 5 years - solid paint, reminds me very much of the Benromach 10yo CS
    • Nose
      Tart sweet Sherrynase with light camp fire smoke, tree resin, BBQ sauce, fruit vinegar, pine needles, mint, liquorice, hard wax shoe cream
    • Taste
      sour red berries, rosehip marmalade,, mint, juicyfruit chewing gum, eraser, cardboard box, charred wood, burnt paper, grapefruit skin, walnut skin, beautiful oak spices, tobacco, beautiful full-bodied, intense, yummy
    • Finish
      spicy, fruity, slightly dry, lots of wood, wood ash, long and delicately bitter

  43. Dre73 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  44. Dre73 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    First smoky Ben Nevis that I test. Nice firm, sherry barrel influences especially in the smell.
    • Nose
      sherry influences, leather, somewhat peaty too, open fire smoke. Raisins, some chocolate, plums, later also honey.
    • Taste
      Salmiak kickje in the beginning, somewhat creamy mouthfeel, again slightly peat, smoke anyways, sweet, peach
    • Finish
      Salmiak, licorice, slightly smoky yet. Ash too. Peach. Fairly long.

  45. spigray scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  46. spigray scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    the nose makes the big points, whereas palate and finish are a little...well not flat but you know...
    86/100
    • Nose
      5 years? I mean it smells young but 5 years? astonishing!
      a light sherry nose which allows the ben nevis profile to shine through easily.
      there´s some obvious smoke which mingles perfectly with orange jam. other than that we have some malt that comes and goes. sunflower oil. minerals.
      I like the nose very much, I have to say
    • Taste
      this is very ben nevis, with this special taste that always reminds me of japanese rice cake. don´t know how to describe it. puffed rice? no, it´s rice cake. did not have this taste in any other brand.
      and it´s rather peaty and relatively dry. cold cigarette ashes.
    • Finish
      medium, dry, almost bitter

  47. Sapiano did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Ben Nevis McDonald's Traditional WID: 29966 from my new Whisky.de glass. The single smoky Ben Nevis I know. The smoke is not that extreme, reminds me of freshly roasted chestnuts and leaves much air for sweet sherry, also in the taste. The finish develops beautiful roast and espresso notes without becoming too bitter. I really like the youngster.

  48. Calmar scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Suddenly a smoky mantle, pleasant and soft in the aroma, although the smoke disappears completely in the taste, as if there was not it. In general, the impression is pleasant, there is a certain zest in it, sufficient depth and complexity, softness and delicacy resembles the products of Isle of Jura.
    • Nose
      Warm, open, smoke, smoked - fat fish, pork ham; wood chips in the smokehouse, apples, fish oil, light rubber notes in the background, everything is very soft and delicate.
    • Taste
      Saturated, dense, dried fruits - dried apricots, dates, dried apples; cream, fondant, light spices - pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel.
    • Finish
      Continuation of taste, long and rich, smoky and smoked notes of aroma join it, very pleasantly and gently.

  49. MadScientist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      87 87

  50. whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    If you are looking for a cheap sherry highlander, you will find it here.
    • Nose
      Deep and woody sherry notes at the beginning, cloves, raisins, some cocoa powder, behind it a bit kräutrig
    • Taste
      Again, oak and sherry are in the foreground, the alcohol releases pleasant pressure, slightly creamy, again there is the cocoa, a little dry with time
    • Finish
      Oak dominates, but without suppressing other ingredients completely, there is still the very clear cocoa powder and again a few herbs that are now almost grassy

  51. jankes scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  52. AdelphosHume scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Mainly sherry cask matured. Not the best of Ben Nevis, but an interesting peat variety, none-the-less. A good, heavy, coating mouth-feel. The underlying spirit was of very good quality, and the casks used to mature it were of noticeable quality, too.  
    • Nose
      Peat, banana, barely, soft fruits, and a hint of earthiness. After 5 minutes, some green fruit notes appear.
    • Taste
      Floral peat, peated barely, and orange zest.
    • Finish
      Lightly peated green fruits.

  53. kot1803 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  54. Dramned! scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    <https://dramned.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/ben-nevis-mcdonalds-traditional-46/>
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  55. Dramned! scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    I do not know how whisky tastes from the good old days, because that is supposed to reflect this Ben Nevis. At least it is complex in the nose and quite "different" and apart from the typical features, there are many new things to discover. Very full-bodied in the mouth and for a Ben Nevis with unusually much smoke. He has no age, but there are rumors that he should be six years old. The dominant Eichennoten but testify to much older barrels, of which not a few must be included here. I find it exciting and very unusual for a Ben Nevis. In the finish he is a bit too bitter for me, but that only minimizes the overall impression. A very successful special bottling, which absolutely meets the anniversary of the distillery - and compared to the massively hyped and overpriced anniversary bottlings of various Islay distilleries, this is pleasantly quiet and dignified. Very sympathic!
    • Nose
      Immediately I have Ben Nevis' signature dark chocolate with roasted cocoa in the nose - unmistakable. Then fine smoke and strong fruity sherry notes jostle forward. An oily-salty spiciness, brown cane sugar, a hint of oak, cinnamon and a few tart citrus notes - most likely orange peel - complete the complex picture.
    • Taste
      The onset is fierce - significantly more smoke on the palate and strong alcohol. A creamy sweetness of Demerara sugar and caramelized nuts, spicy fruit compote, fresh linseed oil and ripe peaches slosh aromatic over the tongue. Mild oak notes and bitter tannins become more and more dominant here in the nose.
    • Finish
      In the medium-long finish dominate mainly the smoke with an ashen bitterness, dry wood tones, grapefruit and some sweet sherry aroma.

  56. Snerik scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    Cool whisky, I like it! 
    • Nose
      Clean, honey, pear and peat. Some orange zest as well. 
    • Taste
      Smooth, notes of honey and hey. 
    • Finish
      Long, pleasant finish. Balanced and finishes up with notes of apricots, peat and hey. Really nice! 

  57. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Note by Serge Valentin from whiskyfun.com:

    Ben Nevis 'McDonald's' (46%, OB, 185 years anniversary, 2012)  A rather lovely ‘replica’ bottle by the distillery. The back label tells us that they have ‘attempted to re-create this renowned whisky of almost 130 years ago’ (so 1882). After Macallan and now Ben Nevis doing replicas, who’s next? Colour: deep gold. Nose: well, they certainly have succeeded in coming up with an ‘old-Highlands’ style of nose, as this baby displays some rather sooty and mineral notes, with some linseed oil, some coal, some natural wool (right, clean sheep) and then more grapefruits, clay, ashes and even touches of olives. I never tried some very, very old Ben Nevis but I remember an ‘Old Mull’ from around 1910 that did display this kind of profile. Or even, ah, er, Old Clynelish…  Mouth: some peat this time – I don’t think I ever found this much peat in Ben Nevis – as well as quite some apple compote and again something mineral. The grapefruits are back as well, or is that pomelo (also known as shaddock, says Wikipedia)? The palate is rather simpler and cleaner than the nose. Finish: medium long, peaty. Cider apples, raw malted barley. Bitter herbs in the aftertaste. Comments: a very, very fine effort. Maybe a little more old whisky thrown in would have made the palate a little less mono-dimensional? SGP:454 - 83 points.

  58. hartist scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    I'm not going to hide it, I'm not a fan without really knowing why magic does not work.
    • Nose
      A cocktail of ripe fruits (peaches, apricots), citrus (especially orange), exotic fruits (papaya?), Oleaginous fruits (sherry cask) and seaweed butter.
    • Taste
      Thick, creamy, full-bodied and spicy with a dominant citrus nut and peaty note (other than islay).
    • Finish
      Quite long and fragrant with some hints of candy acidulated, a hint of bitterness (zest) and a little sea spray.

  59. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      84 84

  60. Finlaggan scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    My review can be found here:
    http://themaltdesk.blogspot.com/2014/10/mcdonalds-traditional-ben-nevis.html

  61. HunterRomario scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    It is not a bad, pleasant whisky. Tasty at the Whisky Festival 2014.
    • Nose
      Mix malt, spices (mainly cinnamon), flesh and some sour fruits. (84 b)
    • Taste
      Taste mainly spicy, with a little fruit and mint reverberation. (84 b)

  62. Jean-Brice scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    A superb nose but a mouth recessed. Too bad because in raw cask it must have been a bomb!
    • Nose
      Exotic and chemical fruit very marked! Bubble gum, papaya, peach, apricots
    • Taste
      aqueous
    • Finish
      short

  63. ArK scored this whisky 88 points Member Junior

    Perhaps the page is referring to batch #1 which had 700 bottles and you have got batch #2 which has more than 700?

  64. stefsel111 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    I think the number of bottles is not correct.

    Today a bottle was deliverd to me with bottle number 707

    Does anybody know how much bottles there really are?

    Greatings stefan

  65. Cast Olila scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  66. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  67. bakerman scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    There is a second edition without the bottle number on the back, a little darker and cheaper. This had been available from Loch fyne Whisky, but (unfortunately) is sold out.

  68. Willie JJ scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Those that don't routinely like Ben Nevis might like this and those that do will probably love it. Too bad the pricing is so fierce, but this is a class act nonetheless.
    • Nose
      There's an extraordinary depth to this as if you were sniffing a great tankful of it. The classic Ben Nevis pungency seems to have aligned itself beautifully with the peat to create something that just feels right. The sulphurous spirit and the weighty peat are working in harmony with the casks to produce a lovely smokey fruity toffee concoction. I like this a lot.
    • Taste
      Toffee and coal smoke that melts on the tongue and delivers waves of lemony deliciousness, but it's so richly mouth-coating that it's almost sticky. . 
    • Finish
      Now the coal smoke takes over and delivers dusty spices into the mix. Not long but really delicious.

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