Inchgower 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #09029 (Finn Thomson)

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. Finn Thomson selected this single cask, distilled in 2009, and released it at 13 years old in its Private Cask Collection range. Single cask 09029 gave 236 bottles, 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 a red wine cask.

Bottled at its natural cask strength of 58.8%, without dilution, the red wine cask adds dark berry and plum, with wine tannins giving a dry, grippy edge. At 13 years the wood and the salty, nutty spirit are roughly in balance.