Inchgower 14 Year Flora & Fauna

This entry, number 95 in the SDT, is Inchgower, an under-the-radar Speyside distillery highlighted by Diageo's Flora and Fauna collection. This 14-year-old single malt, bottled at 43% ABV, likely contains added colorant, giving it a yellow-gold hue, and is almost certainly chill-filtered. The initial aroma presents white grapes or grape juice and honey. Slightly astringent oak follows, but it's quite pleasant, accompanied by a brief hint of sawdust. Notes of green apples, pears, and mild peaches emerge, along with anise, licorice, and ginger, and a trace of smoke. It's not peaty at all, but a wisp of smoke drifts in and out. A sweetness develops over time in the glass, featuring cocoa-dusted oranges and a light vanilla presence. Hints of nutmeg, more cocoa, and honey are also present. After a considerable period (at least 25-30 minutes), notes of caramel, butterscotch, and maple appear. While not the most captivating aroma, it possesses considerable depth. The palate doesn't quite match the promise of the nose, which wasn't exceptional to begin with. It features peppery oak with ginger and a bit of barrel char. There's a slightly bitter and vegetal quality, along with anise, licorice, and a distinct root beer undertone. Bitter tangerines and a mild sourness are present, though not overwhelmingly so. Honey, a touch of maltiness, and vanilla are also detected. It's a middle-of-the-road experience, perhaps even slightly below average. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, coating the palate and finishing dry with a somewhat fuzzy texture. It's difficult to describe more precisely. The finish is medium in length, featuring tangerines, oak tannins, and a slight sourness. Despite its engaging depth and complexity on the nose, this whisky lacks a standout character. I wouldn't turn down a serving, but superior options abound. My recommendation is to add a large ice cube to a glass with a generous pour and enjoy this on a warm day. It's an easy drinker if you're not looking for deep contemplation. At $56 plus international shipping, I would likely refrain from purchasing. However, if you can acquire it for under $60 delivered, it's worth considering. A solid 3.5 rating, and thanks to a friend for the sample. This concludes the seventh and final round of the Scottish Distillery Tour. Cheers

Everyone has some kind of a bucket list...certain goals that as you progress through life, you begin to understand that there's a world of experiences waiting for you. My list has ranged from culinary adventures (street food in Chiang Mai) to journeys (visiting the foothills of the Himalayas), to achievements (writing a book). Trying a sample from every active Scottish distillery was also on that list. So.... today is the day. Today is the day I can finally check off having sampled from every active Scottish whisky distillery. An idea conceived and coordinated by a friend over 18 months ago. We assembled a small group. We searched extensively for difficult-to-obtain distillery samples (Abhainn Dearg, for instance). We had an excellent tracking spreadsheet with macros that presented a stats dashboard. And we included really interesting 'extra' samples that ranged from treasures like Hibiki 21, Macallan Rare Cask Black, and Highland Park 25, just to maintain interest. So...today is the day I can finally state I've tasted a sample from every active distillery in Scotland. It took 18 months to accomplish, but we did it. Anyway...Moving on to the tasting of this...surprisingly good...vanilla, honey. Flora and Fauna rarely disappoint...and this is no exception. Thanks to the person who provided the pour!!

It's time for another release from Diageo's Flora & Fauna series: Inchgower 14 year old. This Speyside distillery was established in 1871 by Alexander Wilson, replacing the Tochineal distillery. Arthur Bell & Sons acquired the distillery in 1938 and currently produce approximately 2 million liters annually. While they don't offer many other single malts as distillery bottlings, they do have a Rare Malts Collection featuring a 22 and a 27-year-old. This bottling is at 43% ABV and has a light gold color, exhibiting runny, quick legs and small beads around the rim. The nose presents cereal grains and vanilla, with a pleasant, light influence from toasted oak barrels. The palate delivers a brief but fleeting taste of sherry, abundant wood tannins, and a spicy warmth. The mouthfeel is medium and oily, yet still relatively smooth. The finish is medium to long, oily, with a pleasant warmth that lingers for a considerable time. Overall, this is a solid, high-quality dram. I thank my friend for this pour. We're nearing the end of this tasting, and this might turn out to be one of the better selections from this round. I'd rate it 3.5 to 3.75 stars, and I believe the price was fair. Cheers.

Nose: very light, vanilla, bourbon. Inconsistent. Palate: slightly fruity, caramel, honey, a hint of plums, as noted on the bottle, I confirm a distinct salty/maritime sensation, reminiscent of a watered-down Talisker. Finish: pleasant, slightly brackish, leaving a very sweet honey note. A pleasant and summery whisky, but lacking distinctive character. Rating 3.75 _______________________________________________________________ Naso: leggerissimo, vaniglia, bourbon. Inconsistente. Palato: leggermente fruttato, caramello, miele, una punta di prugne, come scritto sulla bottiglia confermo che si avverte in maniera netta il salato/marino, che ricorda un po’ un Talisker annacquato. Finale: piacevole, leggermente salmastro, lascia una nota di miele molto dolce. Whisky piacevole ed estivo, ma senza un particolare carattere. Voto 3,75

The start of a three-day weekend. Pouring myself a sample offered by a friend as part of a tour. The nose is light and faint. Aromas of cereal notes (Cheerios), white fruits (apples, pears), vanilla, and honey. A sprinkle of baking spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, along with ginger and a touch of root beer. The body is thin and delivers a spicy kick of black pepper and ginger. Oak spices with an earthy, mineral quality. The finish has notes of orange bitters or zest mixed oddly with hints of pineapple. These slowly fade, leaving the palate woody and dry. This dram doesn't offer lively, rich, or deep flavors. It's a relatively easy drink for warm, summer days. It's a sipper lacking memorable or distinctive characteristics. It's an average dram, but not something I would actively seek out. [Tasted: 8/31/18][84/100]

Straw-colored whisky, quite translucent. Intense green grape and apple on the nose, almost like infused vanilla smoke. Floral, quince, and a medley of fruity notes like plum. On the palate, it's direct, with a salty tint, honeyed, and anise-like. Finish is smooth and short. Complex. Better on the palate than on the nose.