Invergordon 25 Years / 43 Years (Darkness!)

So I bought samples of both grain whiskies in the recent batch of Darkness whisky bottlings: an Invergordon 25 Year Old (PX cask) and Invergordon 43 Year Old (Oloroso cask).

Grain whisky matured / finished in sherry casks (especially first-fill) is rare, but I’ve had some great experiences before.

 

 

Invergordon 25 yo (46,1%, Darkness 2017, Pedro Ximénez cask, 100 btl., 50 cl)

Nose: nice and rich. The expected plums and raisins, moving towards very jammy blackcurrants and cassis. Plenty of cinnamon pastry. Muscovado. Light hints of coconut, but this is not the usual Batida de Coco profile of common grains. Also the PX doesn’t make it too sweet, there’s even an earthy side to it. Soft varnish and milk chocolate. Very good.

Mouth: more rummy notes now, and more creamy coconut. Toffee and chocolate coated biscuits. Hints of latte with vanilla syrup. Rum and raisins. Leather.

Finish: quite long, on chocolate, butterscotch and rum.

Very good, dark but not overly sweet, I’d say and the sherry notes blend nicely with the grain character. Good value for money. Around € 75, now out of stock.

Score: 87/100

 

 

 

Invergordon 43 yo (49,3%, Darkness 2017, Oloroso cask, 100 btl., 50 cl)

Nose: more polished and elegant. Less of the jammy, almost syrupy side. More on almonds and other nuts, waxed furniture, pencil shavings and nice hints of Brandy de Jerez. Hints of mint and dried herbs. Cigar boxes. Really great.

Mouth: typical sherry character. Dates, raisins, blackcurrant. Also drier notes of pencil shavings and roasted coffee beans. There a flash of brighter fruits (apricots, baked apple) before it proceeds on cinnamon powder, tobacco and some tannic oak. 

Finish: long, dry, but still polished with cinnamon.

A very aromatic nose. Its age becomes more apparent on the palate, but this is surely a great grain whisky. Double the price, check Master of Malt.

Score: 89/100