Inchgower 27 Year (2018 Special Release)

Nose: Apples baked, cinnamon toast, a trace of lemon bars, and vanilla custard (add water for vanilla custard). More lively, with less toasted bread and more fruit. Taste: Warm baked apples, toasted oats, orange/lemon zest, a faint fruity metallic sensation, and a hint of charred cinnamon bitterness (add water for this). With water, it's like warm apple juice/cider with cinnamon spice, the metallic sensation disappears, a touch of sharp lemon zest emerges, and it's much brighter. Finish: Lingering orange/lemon zest, baked/charred apple peels, a wisp of freshly charred wood – not smoke, but like smelling water that charcoal was soaked in (add water for this). With water, the heat somehow increases, more lemon zest, baked apple, and watery honey. Score: 82/100 Final Thoughts: This is a nice example of how aging a spirit in previously used barrels can mellow the original spirit and allow it to mature gracefully with minimal influence from a seasoned cask. It has pleasant baked apple notes and surprisingly took a while to fully open up, revealing a still fairly subtle aroma. It felt almost like a baked apple brown betty without the butter or sugar. The apple was present but quite muted, with hints of baked wheat/oats/grains. It's fairly enjoyable but a bit dull. Water really enhances this one, brightening the nose and removing the metallic notes from the palate. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.