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Thursday, May 5, 2022

Inchmoan 14 year old 2004, cask 68 for HolyDram Israel

What a start to this cluster! I don't remember the last time I had consecutive whiskies that both surpassed my expectations. Wednesday's wine yeast fermented Inchmoan was a particular delight. I'm going back to the official bottlings for the next two Inchmoans. Today's Inchie is a single hoggie selected for the HolyDram crew in Israel. Thanks to those two previous whiskies, I have high hopes for this one.


Distillery: 
Loch Lomond
Style: Inchmoan
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillery Company
Region: Highlands (Western)
Age: 14 years (March 2004 - August 2018)
Maturation: bourbon hogshead
Cask #: 68
Outturn: 220 bottles
Exclusive to: HolyDram Israel
Alcohol by Volume: 52.4%
Chillfiltered? No
e150a? No
(from a bottle split)

NEAT

Generous dark plumes of smoke (Ballechin / Croftengea levels), infused with pine and moss, cover the nose. New tennis balls, apple peels and fudge linger below. The palate has the same massive piney/mossy smoke as the nose, now with bitter herbs, charred kale and sea salt in the midground, tart apples and mango seed in the background. It finishes peaty, tarry, tangy and tart.

DILUTED to ~46%abv, or ¾ tsp of water per 30mL whisky

The nose becomes more simple, solid, peat-forward, with touches of lemon and eucalyptus. Much closer to a southern Islay style. Salty, mossy smoke remains in the palate, joined by lemons and lemon candy. The bitter herbs return after a few minutes. It finishes with bitter citrus peels and heavy smoke.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Three Inchmoans, three styles. This one is for all you peat monsters out there. Its enormity reminds me of Ballechin's earliest batches, "The Discovery Series", powerful beyond the abv and a real competitor to more famous peaty brands. The cask was dumped at just the right time, with the spirit sturdy and the oak hushed. I'm not sure how a burly golem such as this cask drinks during Israel's summers, perhaps Gal & Co. should send any remaining bottles to a wintry country such as this one.

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - €100?
Rating - 87