Inchgower 24 Years Old 1980 Cask #14148 (First Cask)

Built in 1871 near the fishing port of Buckie, Inchgower makes a briny, nutty malt that has long been a backbone of Bell's. First Cask selected this single cask, distilled in 1980, from Inchgower's years under Arthur Bell & Sons, and released it at 24 years old. It came from single cask 14148, released for the Netherlands.

Inchgower's four stills carry steeply angled lyne arms that hold back the heavier, oilier vapours, part of why the malt comes out nutty, waxy and faintly saline. This bottling matured in an ex-Bourbon cask.

Bottled at 46%, the ex-Bourbon wood gives vanillin for vanilla and oak lactones for coconut, with maltol lending toffee. At 24 years the long maturation has deepened the spirit, the oak adding weight to its savoury core.