Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae

By Barry Bradford on October 15, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae (40%, OB, 2018)

Category: Aqua Vitae
Origin: Lindores Abbey distillery
Bottling: OB
ABV: 40%
Cost: £40

What they say

Our first release from this historic site in Fife, Scotland, Aqua Vitae is a tribute to the origins of Scotch as we know it today. The earliest ‘aqua vitae’ that was made at Lindores Abbey as long ago as 1494. It was thought to have helped to ‘sloeth age’ and ‘abandoneth melancholy’. As a result, it was a powerful tonic that was drunk by kings and commoners alike.

Today Aqua Vitae is a malt spirit distilled in pot stills. It is then infused with a blend of spices and herbs, including cleavers, lemon verbena and sweet cicely. All these herbs and spices are grown in our gardens, amidst the grounds of the ancient Abbey.

Entirely natural, with no added sugars

Official tasting notes

Initial light top notes of peach and pear, give way to masses of ginger, clove and cinnamon spice. Rich, caramel sweetness in addition to some lovely light herbal notes on the finish. Consequently it is complex and rewarding.

What I say

Thanks to Lindores Abbey for the sample

Tasted during the #LindoresAbbey Tweet Tasting hosted by Steve @TheWhiskyWire on 15th October 2018

My tasting notes

Appearance: Champagne gold (3/20),
Nose: Herbal and citrus, lemon thyme, sweet cicely, lemon verbena, lemon mint, bergamot, crisp green apples.
Taste: Lemon oil and honey, some ginger spice, menthol hints, Locketts, woody tannins and apples remind me of Calvados.
Finish: Long herbal and lemon honey.

Overall

Interesting neat but tastes a bit like a cough medicine and reminded me a lot of Calvados too, perhaps as part of a cocktail or longer drink this would come into its own?