This Inchmurrin 18 Year Old was given a makeover in 2015: the eclectic blue alcopop style bottles that you’ll still find in most stores. Recently in 2017 it was given a new redesign, more classy and refined.
As you know, Inchmurrin spirit comes from Loch Lomond’s straight neck pot still. It is distilled at a very high 83-85 % ABV, which causes the fruity notes to be maintained from the long fermentation.
Inchmurrin 18 yo
(46%, OB +/- 2017)
Inchmurrin 18 yoNose: start on hob nobs and whole grain cookies. Cinnamon bark and broken branches. Just plain wood. Caramel coated almonds and hazelnuts. Then some overripe orange notes come out, as well as a hint of mint. Not nearly as impressive as the single casks.
Mouth: really sweet, on pear drops and caramel. Toffee. Hints of tinned pineapple too. Then a hint of commercial coffee (you know, with lots of vanilla syrup and chocolate chips). Gingerbread spices and musty oak. Fades on cocoa.
Finish: fairly long, with milk chocolate, hazelnuts and ginger.
Not bad, but it lacks some of the bright fruitiness of the Inchmurrin 12 Years and the excellent single casks that we’ve tried in the past year. Many shops are still selling the old version – supposedly lower quality but on the other hand the new version is considerably more expensive: around € 95.
Score: 81/100