Inchgower 1995 21yo (Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask)

Today’s Scotch is a 21 year old Inchgower bottled by Hunter Laing’s Old Malt Cask. It was distilled in 1995, aged in sherry butts, and bottled in 2016 at 50% ABV.

This is part of a series of blind tastings from the “The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Edition” advent calendar. I do not know what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Macduff 2003 14yo (Single Cask Nation)
2. Wemyss Wooden Chest
3. Lost Distillery Company Auchnagie Classic
4. Glen Moray 2008 9yo #5764 (Secret Spirits)
5. Craigellachie 12yo 2006 Cask Strength (Secret Spirits)
6. Exclusive Malts Islay Sherry Cask (Laphroaig)
7. Adelphi Breath of Speyside 2006 (11yo)
8. Balmenach 2004 13yo (Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask)
9. Glen Moray 2007 10yo (A.D. Rattray)
10. Royal Brackla 2006 11yo (Secret Spirits)
11. Wemyss Delicious Burst
12. Lost Distillery Company Stratheden Classic
13. Auchinderom - Peated Glenglassaugh (Malt Whisky Company)
14. Knockdhu 2009 9yo (A.D. Rattray)
15. Caol Ila 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
16. Wemyss Nectar Grove
17. Glentauchers 2008 10yo (Secret Spirits)
18. Glenallachie 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
19. Williamson (Laphroaig) 2005 13yo (A.D. Rattray)
20. Stones of Stenness Orkney Aged 18yo (Single Cask Nation)
21. Inchgower 1995 21yo (Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask)
22. Towiemore Archivist (Lost Distillery Company)
23. North British 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)
24. Inchmurrin 1996 21yo (Secret Spirits)
25. Glen Grant 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)

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Distiller: Inchgower
Bottler: Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 2016
ABV: 50%
Age: 21yo
Cask type: Sherry Butts
Source: Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Ed
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Vanilla, sugar frosting, pear, an earthy fern funkiness, musty lambic beer.
Palate: Light and unassuming, custard and pear, the funkiness does not appear to carry through to the palate.
Finish: Pear, olives and mild white cheesiness. medium-short finish.
Overall: The interest here seems to be almost exclusively on the nose. There there is a rich earthy funk, and wonderful lambic note, and lots more interest to be found. Unfortunately it seems mostly to just explode in typical bourbon-cask Speyside pretty custard notes on the palate, and then fade to nothing. My guess is that this is an older bourbon cask speyside. Overall it is interesting and enjoyable, if only for its nose.
Rank: 6
Reveal: Sherry butt! Wow. I guess that’s what the earthiness was, but it was the only sherry note I got, and it was faint. Interesting!