Inchgower 12 Years Old

Classed by Diageo among its nutty and spicy malts, Inchgower is the Manzanilla of Speyside, its coastal saltiness setting it apart from its floral neighbours. This is one of Inchgower's uncommon official bottlings, released at 12 years old. It was released for Europe.

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 40%, the ex-Bourbon barrel adds vanilla from vanillin and a coconut note from oak lactones, over a light cereal sweetness. At 12 years the wood and the salty, nutty spirit are roughly in balance. The recorded notes run to fresh orchard fruit, honey, leafy notes, a nutty note and vanilla.