Inchgower 12 Years Old 2007 Cask #801246 (Adelphi)

On the Cromarty side of the Moray Firth, Inchgower distils a coastal, savoury malt that has fed Bell's and other Diageo blends for decades. Adelphi, a Highland independent, selected this single cask, distilled in 2007, and released it at 12 years old in its Selection range. Single cask 801246 gave 561 bottles, released for Europe.

The distillery's spirit is built for body rather than elegance, nutty and waxy with a coastal salt note unusual for Speyside. This bottling matured in an Oloroso sherry cask.

Bottled at its natural cask strength of 55.8%, without dilution, the Oloroso sherry cask layers raisin and fig from its melanoidins over a drying, nutty oak grip. At 12 years the wood and the salty, nutty spirit are roughly in balance. The recorded notes run to fresh orchard fruit, honey, vanilla, citrus, stewed fruit and dried fruit.