Origin: Lowlands (Scotland)
Type: Fife Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46.3%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Inchdairne Distillery Ltd
Average price: € 90.00
Official website: www.inchdairniedistillery.com
Reflecting on an article I read online some time ago about the production buzz in the Lowlands, I return to the pioneering InchDairnie and its peated whisky under the KinGlassie label, of which I had recently tried the basic version, while today I find in my glass a limited edition.
Raw because it is similar to its brother in both peatiness and strength, but with all of its eight years spent in ex-bourbon barrels, making for a “basic” maturation that should enhance its primary characteristics. Initially, only the Double Matured was supposed to be released, which undergoes maturation in ex-amontillado casks as well, but upon tasting, the straight ex-bourbon version impressed the founder, Scott Sneddon, so much that he decided to bottle it despite its extremely light color.
Tasting Notes
I’m not sure how much of this can be defined as “raw,” but on the nose, it reveals a strong component of malt and nuts, including shells, cereal cookies, peanuts (sometimes even in butter form), hazelnuts, and flax seeds, with peat providing a backdrop (we’re between 50 and 60 ppm) in a bonfire version, clearly noticeable but not overwhelming. In the background, it expresses a rounder aspect of green apple, custard, licorice, and sesame bars. Spicy hints of nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. Young yet possesses a certain elegance.
On the palate, licorice and very pronounced vegetal notes stand out, with a distinct spiciness between ginger and black pepper, and peat leaning towards burnt grass, always in good balance. Cereal and nuts still dominate, with fruit and pastry elevating the tone, developing trifle, baked apple, citrus (grapefruit), milk chocolate, and chinotto (as the soda drink). It is rough and not very creamy, rather dry in length.
The finish is quite long, featuring spices, vegetal notes, licorice, nuts, citrus, and extinguished bonfire.
Review: Definitely an original whisky, hard to classify, with the sharp edges of youth meeting certain subtleties of maturity, an undefined hybrid as if it had been caught at the moment of transitioning to adulthood. And I am here waiting for it.
Vote: 84/100