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Friday, May 13, 2022

Inchmurrin 19 year old 2001 SMWS 112.88

(Loch Lomond cluster homepage)

Gotta sneak in one Inchmurrin with a little bit of age on it, but I'd rather it not be oaky, so I'm going with this second-fill former bourbon barrel bottled by SMWS. Will this Inchmurrin quartet end on a good note?

Distillery: Loch Lomond
Style: Inchmurrin
Owner: Loch Lomond Distillery Company
Region: Highlands (Western)
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Age: 19 years (28 August 2001 - 2020)
Maturation: second fill bourbon barrel
Cask: 112.88 - "The Godfather"
Outturn: 212 bottles
Alcohol by Volume: 58.2%
(from a bottle split)

NEAT

The nose has much more ocean to it than Wednesday's 9yo, and it goes for peach pie, as opposed to the 9's apple pie. Orange creamsicles fill the midground, thyme and pumpernickel the background. The peach and thyme notes mix well in the palate too. Lots of tartness. A bit of tangy chiles. Then rye seeds and tannins in the background. Tart and tangy fruits and chiles finish it up, with a sweetness that builds over time.

DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1½ tsp of water per 30mL whisky

Nothing but peach and beach on the nose. The palate shows more tannin and vanillin, with smaller notes of orange candy and grapefruit. It finishes with orange candy and oaky American chardonnay.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

I sipped this side-by-side with the aforementioned TWE 9 year old, and the 9yo won. The 19's nose is very satisfying, while the palate is simpler and woodier than the 9's, especially once diluted. That being said, this is very good whisky I'd gladly drink again. The rye and pumpernickel notes are especially fascinating. I'm not sure how Loch Lomonds react to oxygen, but this would be an interesting bottle to consume very slowly over time, perhaps improving in the middle or end of its life.

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - ???
Rating - 86 (neat only)