Inchgower 23 Years Old 1997 Cask #8788 (C. Dully Selection)

Inchgower is rarely bottled on its own, most of its salty, nutty spirit going to the blenders, so independent releases carry the distillery's name where the blends do not. C. Dully Selection selected this single cask, distilled in 1997, from the distillery's United Distillers and early Diageo era, and released it at 23 years old. Single cask 8788 gave 164 bottles, released for Switzerland.

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 ex-Bourbon cask.

Bottled at its natural cask strength of 59.9%, without dilution, American oak from the ex-Bourbon cask supplies vanilla and coconut, with eugenol adding a touch of clove. At 23 years the long maturation has deepened the spirit, the oak adding weight to its savoury core. The recorded notes run to a husky, grainy note and seasoned oak.