Ben Nevis 2011 Aged 9 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Infrequent Flyers (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 59.5%           Age: 9 Years            Country: Scotland

Cask Number: 2349
Date of Distilling: 2011
Matured In: Virgin Oak Barrel
Un-Chillfiltered

Established in 2008 The Alistair Walker Company is based in Grangemouth in Central Scotland. Alistair has almost 20 years experience in the whisky industry and is not affiliated to any one distillery. Alistair’s career in the whisky industry began in January 1997, at Burn Stewart Distillers in a sales and marketing role for over six years. At that time Burn Stewart was the custodian of two single malt distilleries – Deanston and Tobermory. In October 2004, he joined The BenRiach Distillery Company, and remained with them for over twelve years, until the business was eventually sold. This was a new-start business, that had been set up in 2004 following the acquisition, by three entrepreneurs, of the BenRiach Distillery from Pernod Ricard. In addition to BenRiach, Alistair also had the good fortune to work with the GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries, with BenRiach having acquired GlenDronach in 2008, and then Glenglassaugh in 2013. In 2018, Alistair found himself on hiatus, and contemplating what to do next.Keen to be his own boss and also wishing to remain in the whisky sector, he decided to venture into the exciting world of independent bottling. Making the move from distillery to independent bottler is very much a case of ‘gamekeeper turned poacher’. Fortunately, independent bottling is a vibrant category at present; as more and more whisky enthusiasts are seeking out single cask bottlings and whisky releases that are a little different, somewhat unique, and often from less familiar distilleries. The whiskies the are bottled under the brand name ‘Infrequent Flyers’. That name refers to the nature of many of the casks that are bottled – often whiskies from lesser-known distilleries that are of excellent quality, but have never been widely or consistently available. As such, many of the bottlings are of whiskies that you just don’t see so often – hence the name ‘Infrequent Flyers’.

Ben Nevis Distillery is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland. The distillery is nestled at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, which has a summit elevation of 4’406 feet above sea level giving its malt a renowned name ‘the dew of Ben Nevis’ . This imposing mountain provides an impressive background to a traditional Scottish craft. The distillery was founded by ‘Long John’ Macdonald (no he was not a pirate) in 1825 and in 1848 in a cunning way of promotion presented a cask to Queen Victoria when she visited Fort William. They produce both malt and grain whiskies simultaneously due to installation in 1955 of a special still.

This single cask single malt whisky was distilled at the Ben Nevis Distillery and left to mature for 9 years in a Virgin Oak Barrel. It was finished with Virgin Oak before being bottled at 59.5% ABV and marks bottling number 44 of the Infrequent Flyers series. Only 232 bottles were produced for worldwide distribution.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Summer fruits, with spice and citrus notes

Palate: savoury vanilla, with dashes of honey and baking spice

Finish: lasting honey finish, slight spice