Inchmurrin

Inchmurrin

Aged 12 Years

Aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, refill sherry, and recharred casks.

PRICE $ · RATING
AGE 12 years old
ALC/VOL 46%
NOSE Honey, straw, heather, fresh ginger, toasted coconut, and oak shavings; water adds more oak and a bit of funk to the proceedings.
PALATE Waxy, spicy, and oaky, with pears, vanilla, salted caramel, and baking spices; water amps up the spices. The finish has perfume, dried fruits, and sweet and spicy peppers.
GENERAL Round, light, and grassy, it develops distinct pepper notes as it opens.

Inchmurrin

Madeira Wood Finish

Aged first in ex-bourbon casks, then put in ex-Madeira casks for an additional, unspecified time.

PRICE $$ · RATING
AGE No age statement
ALC/VOL 46%
NOSE The Madeira hits you right up front: tropical and orchard fruits, white raisins, vanilla, varnish, and a slight savory note. Water brings it down a bit, but adds a slight nutty edge.
PALATE An oily mouthfeel, with potpourri, cinnamon, juicy bananas, candy shell, apples, and pears, but an oaky astringency takes over quickly; the finish is long, tannic, and peppery.
GENERAL The cask notes are nice, but they prove superficial on the palate, and in time the oak influence dominates.

Aged 18 Years

The Loch Lomond distillery sits on—duh—Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Britain, and Inchmurrin is the lake’s largest island.

PRICE $$ · RATING
AGE 18 years old
ALC/VOL 46%
NOSE Lavender candy, stewed pears, baking spices, vanilla, ginger, caramel, and a very slight peat note; water adds a rich honey, orange, and vanilla sweetness.
PALATE A medium mouthfeel, with a slight, sweet smokiness, alongside honey, burnt sugar, pipe tobacco, and dried apricots; in time an oak astringency dominates, and continues on through the finish, with an added pop of red pepper flakes.
GENERAL Given the age, and the stellar nose, you’d expect more from this. The palate is narrow and, in time, overly oaky.