Inchfad 13 Year Old – Batch 1 That Boutique-y Advent Calendar – Day 10

That Boutique-y Advent Calendar 2020

Inchfad 13 Year Old – Batch 1- 49.5% vol. £58.95

On the 10th day of Christmas Boutique-y gave to me…a dram from Loch Lomond distiller-y…

I was sent this Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar in order to sample its delights, and to reveal my thoughts to you dear reader!! Will they all delight my palate? Time will certainly tell.

Inchfad is an island in the south-east of Loch Lomond, which is home to a ruined distillery. This hails from Loch Lomond distillery.

Thinking back to my last visit to Loch Lomond with the Dramboree gang, my lasting memory was sitting drinking whisky in the dark on the jetty outside the SYHA while watching night swimmers. Well that and being eaten alive by midges…

The nose intrigued me a little, lime fruit gums…yeah those ones that stick your teeth together!! Gentle hints of Savlon. Apple and pear. A handful of nuts. Bready. Softly floral. Gentle smoke too.

The palate is a little smoky, a little vegetal. Peaty, but not smack you in the face peaty, just a hint of, I’m being honest. A little sharp… there’s a sweetness there, but it’s a bit shy on revealing itself.

Finish is quite drying and a tad bitter (black tea.) A little wisp of smoke remaining.

Lovely artwork by the very clever Emily Chappell once again.

The advent calendars were available from Master of Malt plenty of delicious Boutique-y Whisky to tempt your palate too!!

Loch Lomond Whisky – Spirit of the Open

Spirit of the Open – Loch Lomond Whisky

Imagine you are holding a tube of toothpaste, don’t squeeze too hard, just grasp it lightly with both hands…if you grip too hard it will spurt everywhere!! And that my friends is how to hold a golf club.

I’m a lapsed golfer but I jumped at the opportunity to dust off my driver and tee off for a Spirit of the Open tweet tasting with Loch Lomond Whisky and Steve Rush of the Whisky Wire.

My Review

The line up for the evening was as follows:

The Open Special Edition – Distillers Cut 46% vol.

Colin Montgomerie 25 Year Old – Triple Wood Matured 46.3% vol.

The Open Course – Royal Portrush 19 Year Old 53% vol.

Christie Kerr 2002 Vintage 48.1% vol.

Teeing off on the first hole was The Open Special Edition – Distillers Cut. Fresh, fruity and lots of sweet notes. Maybe a bit of zest too. The palate was a little viscous, plenty of spices and definitely some orange and vanilla.

And I’m in the rough… I found my ball as we had a look at Colin Montgomerie 25 Year Old – Triple Wood Matured. This delivered stewed apples, custard danish, a little cinnamon. Fragrant woody notes.

Next up was the Royal Portrush 19 Year Old 53% vol. Was my golf bag in the garage too long? This was almost a little dusty at the start (fleetingly so) then sweet fruits and berries. A touch of vanilla… on the palate, it was thick and chewy, just the way I like it!!  Spicy / peppery and some woody flavours. Warms the palate.

Heading for the 18th hole and a sip of Christie Kerr 2002 Vintage. Spicy but delicate too. Fruity and a bit zesty (like me), fruity, lovely, apples and spice, a nice mouthfeel/ful and oh bugger I’m in the bunker!

For me on the night, the Royal Portrush had me intrigued. I will definitely revisit this one soon.

Thanks to Steve Rush and Loch Lomond Whisky for this opportunity.