This Inchgower 1982 is a sister cask of the ones bottled by Bladnoch (#6965 and #6966), the one from Berry Bros. and Rudd (cask #6968) and a recent one bottled by Whisky-Doris (cask #6971).
Inchgower 28 yo 1982 (57,2%, Malts of Scotland 2011, bourbon hogshead #6969,
212 btl.)
Inchgower 28 yo 1982 (57,2%, Malts of Scotland 2011, bourbon hogshead #6969,Nose: starts strong but warm, with some vanilla and cooked fruits. It quickly gets more grassy (fresh and dried), gingery and minty with light hints of garden herbs. Spiced up with some fresh sawdust, traces of smoke and a slightly sharp, salty breeze.
Mouth: the first wave is slightly milky and creamy (vanilla ice cream?). Then some citrus notes (ripe tangerine). After a while, a big wave of oak comes rolling in, in a nice, slightly bourbonny way (pine wood, resin, cedar maybe). Not tannic, just a little oak-flavoured, subtly bitter and heavily spiced. Soft toffee and demarara sugar in the background. Leather. A hint of parma violets.
Finish: medium length, with traces of fruits, salt and lingering oak.
Even though it’s not very rounded, this Inchgower stands out in a good way and has a nice coastal edge. Be sure to try it if you’re not afraid of some wood nectar and plenty of spices on the palate. Around € 115.
Score: 86/100