Origin: Lowlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 60.2%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon, ex-Wine, ex-Sherry, STR
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Lindores Abbey Distillery
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: lindoresabbeydistillery.com
Vote: 85/100
In the bottlings of the distillery established on the historic site where the first mention of the production of barley distillate is traced back, you could not miss a version dedicated to the monk who was its creator, that John Cor who ordered a discrete quantity of the cereal to welcome the king on a visit to his abbey with good distillate, at the end of the 15th century.
And in this bottling, everything pays homage to the monk, from the black colour of the glass like the habit worn by the monks at the time to the very long name on the label, which plays on the meaning of congregation of monks and congregation of casks, here quite numerous between ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, ex-French Monbazillac wine and ex-STR wine casks.
Cask strength, edition in 5,783 bottles from early 2023, the second chapter of which has already been released with different casks, including peated ones.
Tasting notes
The nose reveals a soft sweetness, totally lacking in alcoholic exuberance, a buttery tartness of berries and apricot jam, ripe plums and pears, custard and honey. The red component of the fruit is more pronounced over time, declined in the sweetness of cherries and sultanas, while there is just a slight ripple in the background, a sour and vegetal vein running through the aromas, in crescendo. A nice overall balance, very amiable.
On the palate the spices appear, not absent but dormant on the nose, with pepper, paprika, aniseed and cinnamon accompanying the more present but always balanced alcohol content, while the evocations turn decisively towards the vinous aspect of the casks, with sour tones and tannins that chase each other among red fruits (blueberries, blackberries, currants), nuts (walnuts, pine nuts), prunes, sultanas and lemon zest. Vanilla, honey and sugar paste are in the background, while the vegetal vein acts as a trait d’union with the nose. Brief impressions of chocolate.
Quite long, tannic finish of red fruits, lemon, spices, Mon Chéri and vegetal notes.
An excellent holding of the full alcohol content enhances the cask congregation, leading to an almost flawless balance, albeit in its simplicity. A dram that manages to tame vinous influences with mastery, lacking just enough age to touch excellence.