The Lindores Distilling Co. Ltd. Lindores Abbey 2021 Cask #244014

An official Lindores Abbey single malt, a 4 year old Lowland malt from 2021, drawn from cask 244014 and bottled at 51.6%. 338 bottles in all. Lindores Abbey, in Fife, is widely called the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, the place named in the 1494 record of Friar John Cor. Lindores also makes Aqua Vitae, a botanical spirit after the kind of drink the monks once distilled.

It was drawn off the distillery's copper stills, for a full, fruity make ready for active wood. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, American oak under the fruit. Years in active oak round the young spirit and add the cask's own character. Michael Jackson wrote that for the whisky lover Lindores is a pilgrimage. The distillery was built in 2017 by Drew and Helen McKenzie Smith, whose family has held the land since 1913. The late Dr Jim Swan shaped the cask policy, with his signature recharred red wine barriques. Barley is grown on the abbey land and water drawn from a borehole the monks first dug.

At cask strength 51.6% it is muscular. The ex-Bourbon lends vanilla, orchard fruit and butterscotch. It is fruity and bold, the spirit and oak well matched. The finish runs rich, spiced and full. This is a layered young single malt from Lindores.