Ben Nevis 2012 / 12 Year Old / Decadent Drams Highland Whisky

Elena Vasquez — Great sherry cask pick

8/10

Nose is all toffee and stewed plums, with a creamy vanilla thing going on underneath. The palate delivers on what the nose promises, which doesn't always happen. Added a splash of water and got even more dried apricot. Solid stuff from Decadent Drams.

Emily Thomas — Great sherry cask pick

8/10

Nose is all toffee and stewed plums, with a creamy vanilla thing going on underneath. The palate delivers on what the nose promises, which doesn't always happen. Added a splash of water and got even more dried apricot. Solid stuff from Decadent Drams.

Tariq Hassan — Great sherry cask pick

8/10

Nose is all toffee and stewed plums, with a creamy vanilla thing going on underneath. The palate delivers on what the nose promises, which doesn't always happen. Added a splash of water and got even more dried apricot. Solid stuff from Decadent Drams.

Kai Oliveira — Good but not quite there

7/10

Decent Highland whisky with nice orchard fruit notes and some oak spice. My issue is the price — at nearly £93 there's stiff competition from other indie bottlings in that range. It's enjoyable, just not something I'd rush to rebuy when there are so many options out there.

Luna Chavez — Good but not quite there

7/10

Decent Highland whisky with nice orchard fruit notes and some oak spice. My issue is the price — at nearly £93 there's stiff competition from other indie bottlings in that range. It's enjoyable, just not something I'd rush to rebuy when there are so many options out there.

Oscar Delgado — Good but not quite there

7/10

Decent Highland whisky with nice orchard fruit notes and some oak spice. My issue is the price — at nearly £93 there's stiff competition from other indie bottlings in that range. It's enjoyable, just not something I'd rush to rebuy when there are so many options out there.

Tyler Bennet — Solid but needs time to breathe

7/10

Straight out of the bottle I found this a bit closed off and spirity despite only being 53%. Left it in the glass for twenty minutes and it transformed — baked apple, cinnamon, toasted oak. If you're impatient like me, just add water from the start. Decent whisky once it opens up.

Zoe Chen — Solid but needs time to breathe

7/10

Straight out of the bottle I found this a bit closed off and spirity despite only being 53%. Left it in the glass for twenty minutes and it transformed — baked apple, cinnamon, toasted oak. If you're impatient like me, just add water from the start. Decent whisky once it opens up.

Gianluca Ferro — My new favourite indie BN

9/10

I've tried maybe six or seven independent Ben Nevis bottlings over the years and this 12-year-old sits near the top. Rich and full-bodied at 53%, with dark chocolate, malt, and a slightly nutty finish. Shared this with three friends and we killed the bottle in one sitting — that should tell you everything.

Priya Sharma — My new favourite indie BN

9/10

I've tried maybe six or seven independent Ben Nevis bottlings over the years and this 12-year-old sits near the top. Rich and full-bodied at 53%, with dark chocolate, malt, and a slightly nutty finish. Shared this with three friends and we killed the bottle in one sitting — that should tell you everything.

Samir Patel — Lovely after-dinner dram

8/10

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. It's rich and dessert-like — think treacle tart and dark berries with a warming spice on the finish. I've been pouring this neat after dinner all week. Not the most complex whisky I've ever had but it's incredibly drinkable for 53% ABV.

Yasmine Najjar — Lovely after-dinner dram

8/10

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. It's rich and dessert-like — think treacle tart and dark berries with a warming spice on the finish. I've been pouring this neat after dinner all week. Not the most complex whisky I've ever had but it's incredibly drinkable for 53% ABV.

Maxwell Green — Classic Ben Nevis character

8/10

Ben Nevis has that waxy, slightly funky house style and Decadent Drams have picked a solid cask here. Honey, overripe banana, and a long spicy finish. I drink mine neat and it handles the 53% ABV well — doesn't feel hot at all for a cask strength pour.

Clara Johansson — Classic Ben Nevis character

8/10

Ben Nevis has that waxy, slightly funky house style and Decadent Drams have picked a solid cask here. Honey, overripe banana, and a long spicy finish. I drink mine neat and it handles the 53% ABV well — doesn't feel hot at all for a cask strength pour.

Freya Lindqvist — Classic Ben Nevis character

8/10

Ben Nevis has that waxy, slightly funky house style and Decadent Drams have picked a solid cask here. Honey, overripe banana, and a long spicy finish. I drink mine neat and it handles the 53% ABV well — doesn't feel hot at all for a cask strength pour.

Marco Andretti — Punches well above its price

9/10

For a 12-year-old independent bottling at cask strength, this is seriously impressive. Big sherry influence on the nose — dried fruits, Christmas cake, a hint of sulphur that blows off after ten minutes. At 53% it opens up beautifully with a few drops of water. I'd buy another bottle without hesitation.

Natasha Volkov — Punches well above its price

9/10

For a 12-year-old independent bottling at cask strength, this is seriously impressive. Big sherry influence on the nose — dried fruits, Christmas cake, a hint of sulphur that blows off after ten minutes. At 53% it opens up beautifully with a few drops of water. I'd buy another bottle without hesitation.

Olivia Park — Punches well above its price

9/10

For a 12-year-old independent bottling at cask strength, this is seriously impressive. Big sherry influence on the nose — dried fruits, Christmas cake, a hint of sulphur that blows off after ten minutes. At 53% it opens up beautifully with a few drops of water. I'd buy another bottle without hesitation.

Ruth Banks — Highland whisky done right

8/10

This is exactly what I want from a Ben Nevis — that slightly old-fashioned, robust Highland profile. Thick and oily with notes of honey, ginger, and a whiff of smoke on the finish. At 12 years old it's got enough maturity without losing its punch. The £93 price tag feels fair for cask strength.

Valentina Ricci — Highland whisky done right

8/10

This is exactly what I want from a Ben Nevis — that slightly old-fashioned, robust Highland profile. Thick and oily with notes of honey, ginger, and a whiff of smoke on the finish. At 12 years old it's got enough maturity without losing its punch. The £93 price tag feels fair for cask strength.