TBWC Ben Nevis 26YO 500mL

Rich, waxy, and intensely characterful, the Ben Nevis 26 Year Old from That Boutique-y Whisky Company is a stunning example of why long-aged Ben Nevis single malts have become cult favourites among connoisseurs. Distilled in the mid-1990s — a golden era for the distillery — this whisky delivers a deep and slightly funky Highland complexity shaped by time, texture, and patience. On the nose, it opens with bold aromas of tropical fruits — think papaya, guava, and overripe banana — layered with beeswax, fermented pineapple, and a dash of wet wool. Beneath the exotic top notes lie hints of burnt sugar, fino sherry, and dunnage warehouse must, conjuring both brightness and brooding depth.The palate is full-bodied and unapologetically distinctive. Flavours of ripe mango, toasted coconut, and oxidised apple mix with mineral-rich malt, resinous oak, and a savory thread of umami. There’s a waxy, almost oily mouthfeel that carries the complexity with weight and confidence, revealing further notes of leather, brine, and gentle smoke on the mid-palate. The finish is long and evolving — a medley of tropical rancio, herbal spice, and fading oak tannins, with a lasting echo of salted caramel, grapefruit zest, and a faint touch of funky fruit ferment.