Whisky Discovery #123

Berry Bros. & Rudd Inchgower 1982 (54.5% abv IB Bottled 2011 70cl)
Speyside Single Cask Malt Whisky
No longer available

Dram #17 of The Whisky Lounge Midland Fest at Stratford upon Avon

For my final dram on the Berry Bros and Rudd stand Rocky poured me a dram of this 29 year old Inchgower single cask single malt whisky, distilled in 1982 and bottled in 2011 at cask strength.

Another 'first' offering from a new distillery in my journey. Inchgower lies close to the town of Buckie on the Speyside coast. The whisky displays a salty, assertive flavour uncharacteristic of the region. The body is smooth, sweet and malty and the finish dry, delivering the final saltiness.

Inchgower distillery was built in 1871 close to the fishing village of Buckie. The distillery went bankrupt in 1936 but was bought by the Town Council for the princely sum of £1600 and subsequently sold to a large distiller at a handsome profit in 1938. Only one percent of Inchgower produced is bottled as a Single Malt, the rest is destined for blended Scotch Whisky, most notably Bell's.

Again no legible notes available from me (must try harder!)

So from the bottle label:

Creamy and perfumy, the nose gives subtle notes of dusty jute and gingerbread with pears in soured cream. The sinewy palate builds with oaky intensity to deliver brazil nuts, gooseberries and fizzing citrus. Rather an idiosyncratic Malt, this finishes leaving one very satisfied is somewhat beguiled by its rare complexity.