(Loch Lomond cluster homepage)
After Monday's disappointment, I'm going to take a step back, hoping that it will actually be a step forward. By that I mean, I'm going to review a baby Inchmurrin, all of nine years old.
I don't care what the Bene Gesserit say; expectation is the mind killer. Because Loch Lomond often proves to be a wild card, I will face my expectation. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. Where the expectation has gone, there will be nothing. Only I and a glass of whisky will remain. Though the glass will be empty by then.
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Style: Inchmurrin
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillery Company
Region: Highlands (Western)
Age: 9 years (June 2010 - July 2019)
Maturation: barrel?
Cask #: 2493
Outturn: 121 bottles
Exclusive to: The Whisky Exchange
Alcohol by Volume: 55.3%
Chillfiltered? No
e150a? No
(thank you to My Annoying Opinions for the sample!)
NEAT
The nose starts off with malt, baked apples, chalk dust and white peaches. Melon gummies and peach gummies. A hint of almond extract meets up with the malt and baked apples, reminding me of apple pie. But on the palate I get spiced pear tart, tart limes and rye bread, with grapefruit and salt in the background. It finishes with baking spices, dried apricot, salt and something bready.
DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1¼ tsp of water per 30mL whisky
The nose continues to thrill. The candies remain, but there's also an intense note of a booze-soaked shortbread-layered trifle. The palate gets a little more tannic and floral, but holds onto the fruitiness, especially the citrus side. It finishes with oranges, limes and salt.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
This is more like it! Loaded with bold fruit, pastry and candy notes, this Inchmurrin magically avoids being too sweet, making it my favorite Inchmurrin yet. If more <10yo whiskies showed this level of character and restraint, then you'd hear less carping from me about baby whiskies. Mr. Opinions was also a big fan of this one, and we found many of the same notes, so you know we are right.
Availability - Sold out
Pricing - ???
Rating - 88