After trying an Inchgower from 1982 by Duncan Taylor at last year’s Hielander Whisky Festival and being really enthousiastic about it, I got a few messages from people who had samples for me if I wanted them.

Well, who am I to turn down a good sample, especially from such a key year from a distillery?

Inchgower 1982 at Van Zuylen

Sniff:
Wood and spirit. So the two main elements of whisky are tackled. Straw, vanilla and other spices. Delicious bourbon cask influences. Rye bread, dark brown bread with all kinds of seeds. Also pastry cream and lots of wood (in a good way).

Sip:
Sharp with pepper and wood. Spices, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla. Never too much of anything. Still creamy with again, quite some wood. Lots of ‘difficult’ flavours.

Swallow:
The finish is beautiful and long with all flavours passing by once again. Lots of spices.

Do you sometimes have the idea that a whisky is out of your league? I have that with this one, as I had with the 1982 Inchgower by Duncan Taylor. Also with a 1982 Clynelish we had during the Blind Tasting Competition. Is it the year?

Anyway, this stuff is utterly delicious and very much worth the € 115 they ask for it. It’s available at Van Zuylen, and some shops in Germany.