Lindores Abbey The Casks of Lindores Bourbon Barrel

The prior series I sampled made me want to avoid spirits. This spirit from Lindores has me excited. Three samples in, and they've been really good. This current bottling is part of the ‘Casks of Lindores Series’. These series bottlings are intended to highlight the Lindores spirit using three differently treated casks. Here, the ex-Bourbon barrels used in maturation, sourced from Old Forrester, are highlighted. Nose: Scrumpy cider is enveloped in crisp, buttery malt-biscuit with hints of coconut, banana, and a fresh bale of straw. This aroma is simple, clean, and crisp. Palate: Full bodied and lively. There's a zingy alcohol presence reminiscent of the new make spirit, but it drives home crisp, flaky pastry, wood spice, peaches and cream fruit notes, and plenty of pear with just a touch of sour gooseberry. Richness is delivered by toffee and bitterness from a subtle hint of mocha. Finish: Medium-long. Drying oak tannin, peppery and cinnamon spice, and butteriness. The central malt theme is what this bottling is all about. It feels like you're getting all the flaky bits of pastry from the bottom of a bag of freshly baked croissants. The original new make spirit is recognizable in the vibrancy of the alcohols and the pear that underlies the palate. The finish might lean slightly spicy and tannic, but the expression is clear and effectively demonstrates bourbon cask influence. Is it the best bourbon cask available, no; but it's a good expression of what goes into the more complex MCDXCIV. New make: 3.25/5 Aqua Vitae Small Batch: 3.5/5 MCDXCIV: 4/5 Bourbon cask: 3.5/5