Inchmurrin 25 Year (SMWS 112.83 "Rara Avis")

The third cask tasted at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society March outturn preview tasting event at the Jack Rose saloon on 2/28/22 was a 25 year old Inchmurrin (Loch Lomond). This was immediately more interesting than the previous two (a young Glen Moray and an older Clynelish). The nose presented as more complex, yet also curiously muted - a fascinating mixture. 

Here are the official notes: 

After 23 years in ex-bourbon wood we introduced this to a first-fill sauternes barrique – the result is a completely unique, one-off, delicious dram. The nose hardly resembles whisky at all – rum baba, pineapple, kumquats, dried apricots, glue, gloss paint and herbal hints. The syrupy sweet, smooth palate is an apricot dessert washed down with Monbazillac wine, orange muscat and cream sherry. The reduced nose contributes toasted oak, honeyed peach, dried papaya, Jaffa cakes, sultanas and Marsala wine. The palate is fruity as hell and jubilantly juicy, with additional Demerara, caramel and white chocolate – it’s dynamic dynamite – but its age presents itself with urbane confidence.

So, a sauternes finish! I would agree with the "unique, one-off" part completely. This is the second dram in a row that smelled and tasted younger than its age - the 17 year Clynelish seemed a decade younger; I would say the same for this. I would have guessed 15 years. The official notes here have some curious angles (glue?!) that I didn't get. Bottled at a reasonable 52.6% - pretty good, considering the age! Let's explore:

Nose: A bit muted. Ginger, maybe even gingerbread. Some tart tropical fruit - unripe pineapple. No glue or paint, I'm happy to say. My neighbor noted that this nose gave absolutely nothing away - it was impossible to tell what you were in for on the palate. 

Mouthfeel: Nice, silky, medium body. 

Palate: Plums/prunes (tart red fruit), oak notes, faint white grape must, dust (!), baking spices for days (cloves, allspice, cinnamon), and raspberry were all present on the tongue. 

Finish: Long oaky finish, doesn't have a million flavors, but lasts a good long time. 

Verdict: Very nice. The oldest Loch Lomond I've encountered, it has a very closed-off nose but a nice, fruity, oaky palate that has a lot of flavor, and a long finish that reminds you of the age. Very very little sauternes influence, though - just some hints of white grape on the palate. Interesting stuff.