Inchgower 21 Years Old 2001 Whisky Sponge (Decadent Drinks)

Built in 1871 near the fishing port of Buckie, Inchgower makes a briny, nutty malt that has long been a backbone of Bell's. Decadent Drinks bottled this, distilled in 2001, and released it at 21 years old in its Whisky Sponge range. The outturn was 178 bottles, released for Germany.

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 its natural cask strength of 48.9%, without dilution, the ex-Bourbon barrel adds vanilla from vanillin and a coconut note from oak lactones, over a light cereal sweetness. At 21 years the cask has had time to round off the spirit's coastal edge and pull the flavours together.