Inchgower is sometimes said to be the Manzanilla of Speyside. Here’s one to prove its light, often slightly quirky reputation: Inchgower 1989 bottled by The Whisky Agency.
Inchgower 29 yo 1989 (51,3%, The Whisky Agency 2019, ex-bourbon hogshead)
Inchgower 29 yo 1989 (51,3%, The Whisky Agency 2019, ex-bourbon hogshead)Nose: quite naked. We find tart candy and grassy notes, some distant bourbonny oak. Hints of oil paint and clay or putty. Lemon and grapefruit, green tea and lemongrass. Quite elegant, but not a sexy profile.
Mouth: much sweeter than expected. Dextrose, sweet lemon juice and apples, then also sweet oak and light floral notes. Really unusual. Becoming more assertive (liquorice, herbal liqueur, ginger) but also showing coastal touches and a very bright fruitiness (rhubarb, lime, even a whiff of tangerine).
Finish: quite long, zesty and citrusy with a leafy ending.
Unconventional whisky, really unique and slightly challenging. Overall quite narrow but showing dozens of tiny details within its profile. Still available for around € 300.
Score: 87/100