I adored some older 1970s Inchgower but I haven’t found any true highflyers among younger bottlings. We’ll give it another shot with this Inchgower 2002 bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in their Connoisseurs Choice range.
Inchgower 2002
(46%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2015, refill sherry hogshead)
Inchgower 2002Nose: good, quite rich with fresh oranges and rhubard, as well as dried fruits (sultanas, dried apple pieces, fruit cake). Floral honey. All this on a background of cereals and whiffs of old wood.
Mouth: sweet but at the same time a bit thin. Raisins, toffee, orange peels and yellow apples. Some milk chocolate. Growing spices after a while. Ginger, pungent pepper, cinnamon. Rather classic refill sherry. The balance of oak and sherry sweetness is just right. Perhaps a touch of wood smoke too.
Finish: medium long, slightly drier now, with cloves, hints of coffee and liquorice.
Maybe not exceptional spirit but the wood lifted it. Lively whisky, matured to the point where the spirit and the cask find each other. I believe this is sold out now.
Score: 85/100