Invergordon 31 year 1987 (North Star)

Nose Neat: Rich, well-rounded sweet cereal (a classic grain whisky profile). Gently fruity (sultanas, cranberries), golden syrup, vanilla, coconut, milk chocolate, milk coffee, and a touch of mint. Nose Watered: Uncannily similar to rum (see notes below). Palate Neat: A little hot and drying upon arrival due to the high alcohol content, but the flavor profile is soft and elegant with barley sugar, butterscotch, treacle, vanilla, dried fruit, and a mild spicy oakiness. The texture is silky and satiny, with a rum-like note. Palate Watered: The texture is greatly enhanced, and the palate develops strongly towards a rum profile. Finish Neat: Medium. Sweet vanilla and sugary fruit notes. Finish Watered: Medium/long. A relaxed sweet cereal and spicy fruit finale with a spiced rum aftertaste. A fine and immensely enjoyable old single grain whisky. It has excellent balance and is very harmoniously composed. There are two entirely different experiences with this whisky. Taken neat, it presents a sweet, fruity, and cereal character expected from Scottish grain spirit that has undergone long and gentle maturation. Imagine Compass Box Hedonism aged in a good-quality ex-bourbon cask for 30 years. However, add a generous dash of water and let it rest for about 20 minutes, and this initially competent spirit transforms into magisterial excellence. Water is not only recommended, it is absolutely essential for this whisky. Initially, watering seems to merely dilute and sweeten the palate, adding some breadth. However, as it recomposes in the glass, a transformation occurs where all aspects of the whisky recombine into a new profile uncannily resembling a very fine Trinidad rum. This profile shifts and resets constantly. One moment you'd swear it's rum, and the next it's clearly barley spirit. We've all had whiskies finished in rum casks and wondered, "Hmm, so where's the rum influence?" Well, this dram is how you always wished those whiskies would smell and taste. The cask that aged this spirit yielded only 190 bottles. If you can find one, I strongly urge you to purchase it. It's not inexpensive, but the experience is unique and unforgettable. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Invergordon DEERSTALKER LIMITED ED 31 yrs bottle 283/298 abv 48% The Highlander rested in a single bourbon hogshead for over three full decades, until August 2019 when it was bottled at 31 years old. Only 298 bottles were released at 48% ABV. creamy, bbq, sweetness, moderate pepper 2.5 zesty, lemon, pear, apple, fruity, light delicate but with a lot of flavor, wow! Vanilla oak - beautifully balanced, and there's a hit of pepper but not too strong 3.75 oaky, vanilla, medium finish 2.75 3

Nose Alcoholic sting, dried fruits, sweetness, Taste: sweetness, caramel pears, hints of vanilla, Alcohol warmth After Taste: sting, sweetness, wood