Another in my series of "one month overdue" reviews from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") October outturn. The November outturn is already out (!), but I missed the tasting because I lost hearing in my ear for a while, which discouraged me from socializing, even with alcohol involved.
This is a 21 year old Inchmoan (the peated Loch Lomond imprint), bottled at 54.9% ABV after 21 years in a first fill barrel. What is most curious about this is that although the spirit was originally peated, this bears NO trace of peat any longer. After 21 years, there is no smoke, no earth, no nothing that would betray any peat - which is pretty remarkable. Even 20+ year old Highland Park - a pretty lightly peated whisky - show the peat with age. Unsure what happened here.
Here are the official tasting notes:
A truly irresistible scent awaited us waiting to be discovered, sparkling white chocolate lime truffles next to a tropical fruit salad with cacao nibs and guava juice. On the palate neat we ran out of superlatives, so superbly smooth with flavours of kumquat, quince, monstera deliciosa (a mixture of pineapple, coconut and banana) and tonka beans. If you so wish you can add a drop of water and a whiff of sweet spices was followed by candied orange peel and white raspberry popping candy chocolate. Luscious, tropical on the palate like a La Vina cocktail, using one part of East-India solera sherry and sweet Amaro next to one part of Bourbon and a dash of orange bitters.
Story checks out. Let's just dive right in:
Nose: Grassy - hay, straw - along with strawberry, grape, cognac, raw unprocessed sugar, and ripe banana. Quite nice, and weirdly fruity/tropical. Not what I was expecting from an older peated spirit at all.
Mouthfeel: Medium.
Palate: Dry - "farmy." Spices (baking), hot peppers, oil. Malted barley, dunnage warehouse, a surprisingly high level of "funk."
Finish: Long finish - herbal, woody, malty, minty, and more of that unnamed farm funk. Like... wet tobacco, almost.
Verdict: I enjoyed this, and almost cannot believe this was ever peated. There is simply zero peated flavors or aromas anywhere around this! But it's very nice for what it is. I would not have guessed 21 years - it tastes more like 12-15 to me - but it's still full of flavor. Another well-executed Loch Lomond.
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