Inchgower Diageo Special Releases 2018 27 Years Old 1990

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. It belongs to Diageo's annual Special Releases, distilled in 1990, from the distillery's United Distillers and early Diageo era, released at 27 years old. The outturn was 8544 bottles.

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 55.3%, without dilution, the ex-Bourbon wood gives vanillin for vanilla and oak lactones for coconut, with maltol lending toffee. At 27 years the long maturation has deepened the spirit, the oak adding weight to its savoury core. The recorded notes run to honey, an oily texture, malt sweetness, vanilla, citrus and fresh orchard fruit.