Ben Nevis

Introduction:

The whiskies from Ben Nevis Distillery are known for their strong and intense character. They often exhibit a spicy aroma, with peat smoke used in the malt drying process. The whiskies also capture the flavors of honey and heather found on the Scottish moors. Distillery bottlings from Ben Nevis are limited in number, with most older whiskies coming from independent bottlers. Ben Nevis is particularly renowned for its ceramic decanter, featuring the picturesque Ben Nevis hill on the gift box. The decanter design is visually appealing and adds to the whisky’s allure.

Independent Bottlings and Blend Range:

Ben Nevis has a wide array of independent bottlings available, encompassing both well-known and lesser-known bottlers. These bottlings offer diverse expressions of Ben Nevis whisky. Additionally, the distillery offers a blend called the Ben Nevis Blend, which features a range of products varying from soft to highly intense expressions, catering to different taste preferences.

The Production:

Over the years, Ben Nevis Distillery has significantly increased its production capacity, rising from 500,000 to 2,000,000 liters per year. While Whisky was historically transported through the Caledonian Canal via Loch Ness, nowadays, transportation is done primarily by trucks. The distillery sources its water from Allt a’Mhuilinn.

The Pot Stills:

Ben Nevis boasts sizable pot stills, including two wash stills with a volume of 25,000 liters each and two spirit stills with a capacity of 20,000 liters each. These tubular and cone-shaped stills feature wide necks and lack reflux bowls. The lyne arm has an almost horizontal configuration after the bend. The smaller spirit stills require a relatively fast distillation speed to keep up with their larger wash still counterparts, resulting in an edgy and intense Highland malt.

The Malting:

Unfortunately, the malting floors at Ben Nevis are no longer in use, and the distillery sources its malt from large international malting companies. A modern stainless steel mashtun has replaced the old cast-iron mash tun.

The History:

John MacDonald founded Ben Nevis Distillery in 1825 at the base of the iconic Ben Nevis hill. His son later established another distillery called Nevis, which operated for 30 years before closing down. The buildings of the Nevis distillery now serve as warehouses for Ben Nevis. In the mid-20th century, Ben Nevis Distillery experimented with continuous distillation, becoming one of the pioneering distilleries capable of producing both grain and malt whisky. In 1989, the Japanese whisky company Nikka acquired Ben Nevis Distillery and remains its owner to this day.

The Visitor Centre:

Ben Nevis Distillery opened its visitor center in 1991, offering two tour options. The top tour provides an in-depth exploration of the distillery, including tastings in the Ben Nevis boardroom. Additionally, there is a restaurant and a coffee shop available for visitors to enjoy.

Visitor information:

Ben Nevis Distillery (Fort William) Ltd.
Lochy Bridge
Fort William PH33 6TJ
Tel.: +44 (0)1397-702476
Email: colin@bennevisdistillery.com