The WhiskyNerds return with a 2003 Ben Nevis
The WhiskyNerds are back and have filled shelf space at Dutch retailers with a new Ben Nevis from a lesser seen vintage. As I travel yearly with these guys, I had the great pleasure of following the progression of this cask over a couple of years. This gives you great insight into how a whisky can change almost overnight. This particular Ben Nevis seemed closed up to me, until this year it started blooming. The WhiskyNerds undoubtedly thought the same, and gave green light to bottle this gem. That is also, in a nutshell, how the WhiskyNerds work. If it is good enough, they will bottle it. If not, then they wait. It had been quite a few years, and even then was their last bottling an undisclosed Cognac. Glad to taste another whisky release, this Ben Nevis from 2003.
Ben Nevis 22 years old, vintage 2003, bottled at 52,4 % abv by WhiskyNerds
First things first: Hogshead # 800229 produced 241 bottles of this Ben Nevis, which was distilled on 15 September 2003, and bottled on 31 March 2026.
Upon Sipping: Very poignant fruit juice on the nose, There is a lot to discover in this glass of Ben Nevis from a rather little seen vintage. Besides the more tropical notes, I also pick up more modest orchard fruit that you find in almost every kitchen. Yellow apples, mushy pulp already under the skin, maybe even a hint of mildew forming between two apples that are lying skin to skin. Very pleasant and offering something different compared to other usual suspects in the tropical fruit spectrum. There is a robust edge around it. Taking a sip, the peaches and sweet ‘n sour notes take over. Oh yes, this one can compete with the better expressions from the 1996 vintage. There is a hint of sticky oranges on the back-palate, while the finish lingers with a tinge of oak flavours. With water, it inevitably goes south more and more towards the equator, getting more tropical with the minute. The palate has signs of zest, citrus notes, and the oak spices pronounced on the tongue now. This carries into the finish. A layer of delicate but dark chocolate chocolate puts a signature on it, while some honeycomb lingers.
Word to the Wise: Did the WhiskyNerds discover another golden vintage for Ben Nevis? This bottle seems to underline it. This is a delicious fruit potion, but with robust and powerful edges. The abv is perfect to make this whisky shine, passing the 90-points line. One of these bottles you buy two of.
Score: 91 points.