McDonald's Celebrated Traditional Ben Nevis

TOO...... PEATY ! [read: sooty] In my opinion for a non Island / Islay Scotch, heck, even most of them are moderate in this department. Maybe in 1882 this was considered the norm (from what was available) but today I would say, 20% of whisky imbibers would find this satisfying. Some pleasant malty overtones, but other than that I find it good for blending with diametrically opposed Whisky!

24th April 2019

It is NOT a re - creation of the founder 'LONG JOHN' MacDonald - rather possibly a version of his son - Donald MacDonald - as his father died in 1856 . Anyway, not a bad drop

1st May 2018

BLOODY FANTASTIC !!

18th April 2018

Have to say that I’m not a whisky expert and I’m more of a big peaty Islay fan (which this obviously isn’t) but I keep finding myself buying it as it’s a great easy drinking full flavoured little number that hits the spot.
Not for everyone but that’s the great thing about malt whisky, there’s something to suit everybody’s taste.
Don’t dismiss it out of hand.
Well worth a try.

6th April 2018

Glad to know that Asahi has kept this distillery true to form as in the usual undeniable Japanese way and not deviate from the original Nevis formula! Great dram!

4th January 2018

I purchased this during my Ben Nevis Distillery tour earlier on this year. Overall I rather enjoyed this, I completely agree with previous comments that the whisky has a charcoal-esque flavour, it was the first thing that company pointed out when trying it. It's a nice whisky however and definitely worth picking up if you're on the tour!

12th December 2017

Sorry, forgot to mention. Pobody's nerfect.

27th February 2017

(Clue: see what's for sale on this page... I'm guessing Donny Trump wrote the Dec 2016 review.)

Originally marketed as a limited run (I've bottle number 25 - NOT bought from the distillery) this sold well and so inevitably was reintroduced as a longer, un-numbered run (I bought another so that I could drink it with a clear conscience - again NOT bought from the distillery).

It's OK, nothing wrong with it, but otherwise unremarkable. I'd suggest there are plenty of genuine "old fashioned" style drops available (e.g. most expressions from Benromach, many from Glenfarclas) without having to buy this re-creation.

On balance a mite expensive for a NAS from Ben Nevis - albeit, knowing MoM, I doubt you'll fine it cheaper elsewhere if you really want one (my bottle no. 25 will cost you £80 plus P&P :-)

27th February 2017

Just got a bottle from the Ben nevis distillery today. Will give a full review when I finally open it. Was told it has a strong peat taste.
Not sure when I'll get around to tasting as I have a few lower grade whisky to drink first

21st February 2017

Bought a bottle of this from the distillery back in 2013 (I think?). A nice strong whisky, & always worth a wee dram.
It will not be to everybody's taste....

5th January 2017

This 13 year old (no age statement, but told by the tour guides at the shop afterwards) singlemalt is very fullbodied. It's supposed to the original recipe of the single malt whisky that the founder of the Ben Nevis Distillery created in his time.

No caramel coloring, the rich and dark color arrives from the relatively high amounts of charcoal in the whisky. And you can taste that! It's not really a peaty taste, but has more like a charcoal-esque flavor to it.

Nice, quite "heavy" whisky which is really worth the trouble getting if you're anywhere near the distillery!

20th December 2016