Inchgower 7 Years Old 2008 Hepburn’s Choice (46%, Langside Distillers, Sherry HH Finish, 380 Bottles, 2016)

Whisky Review

• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Inchgower Distillery
• Bottling: Langside; Hepburn’s Choice
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: £38.51

What they say:

An independently bottled single malt Scotch whisky from the Inchgower distillery, aged for 7 years and finished in a Sherry hogshead. It was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2016 by Langside for the Hepburn’s Choice range. 380 bottles were produced.

Nose:

Cinnamon, floury bread rolls, blackberries and dark chocolate.

Palate:

Honey, raspberries, strawberry and fresh barley.

Finish:

Peppery oak, with a sweet hint of sticky Sherry.

What I say:

An unusual find, a young Inchgower, normally known for it’s slightly coastal/salty and nutty nature for which it is prized by Blender’s. The beauty of these Hepburn’s Choice bottlings is their huge affordability and the opportunity to sample some rarely bottled distilleries at reasonably low age/minimal cask influence.

Colour:

Very pale, hints of silver/gold or platinum (1/20), medium tears leave medium-fine legs

Nose:

Spirity, New Make, acetone, sweet, biscuit, maltedmilk biscuits, slightly chalky & dusty, love heart sweeties, slightly floral/perfumed, nutty, pistachio and marzipan, slightly sweet and chemical ground nut nature

Taste:

Lactic, spirit, vanilla, chalky, mineralic, bath salts/milk of magnesia, gentle biscuit malt with a sharpness and prickle of white pepper spice, milk sweets, boiled/condensed milk, light caramel/toffee, medium-full bodied.

Finish:

Medium length, condensed milk sweetness with chill, cinnamon spices, plus menthol persists

Overall:

Fresh and spirit, young feeling but with a slightly more refined & deep condensed milk flavour, hints of woody spices and menthol.

Score: 72/100

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