Established in 1871 by Alexander Wilson & Co. and located near the town of Buckie in the Speyside region of Scotland, Inchgower Distillery is one of many in the Diageo portfolio. Inchgower is a significant player in the blending game and is most notable for producing rich, full-bodied whisky with a hint of coastal brininess. According to scotchwhisky.com, a hotter-than-usual second water during the quick mashing regime drives the spicy characteristic forward, which cuts back any overt nuttiness. There's also a distinct waxy characteristic that can be found (similar to another coastal plant we adore) due to the steeply angled lyne arms on the stills.
Inchgower's history includes being one of few distilleries briefly owned by the town council after the Wilsons declared bankruptcy in 1936, to then be purchased by Arthur Bell two years later, which would eventually absorb into Guinness, bringing Inchgower to the Diageo portfolio as of present. It's a distillery that certainly isn't new to the robust single malt scotch scene (say that three times fast) but may be overlooked as only a workhorse in the whisky world.
Inchgower is most often used as a blending component for the well-known brand Johnnie Walker, along with distilleries under the Diageo umbrella, most notably Clynelish, an Amongst the Whiskey Team favorite. But like Clynelish, Inchgower also produces limited-release single malt bottlings, often through independent bottlers like Douglas Laing and Signatory, and, as you can tell from the picture above, had, once upon a time, participated in the legendary Manager's Dram's Tasting Sessions.
While Inchgower may not be as widely recognized as some of its Speyside neighbors, we believe it deserves as much attention as some of the other Goliaths in the Speyside region, (we're looking at you, Glenfiddich). There is, however, a dedicated following of malt-manic enthusiasts who can be found waxing poetic over the power of this unique single malt scotch whisky, especially for those who appreciate a deeper, more robust whisky style.
This Manger's Dram bottle was a door prize during the June 2024 Whisky Legends tasting hosted by the abundantly generous Gregory Cloyd. Armed with a well-calibrated palate, the Amongst the Whiskey Team (Nick and Jes, respectively) were fortunate enough to explore this bottle together over several days the following month. After we sat with our third tasting, we agreed that an encore review of an already robust Manager's Dram review series would be necessary. So, how did Inchgower land? Read on to find out.
Company on Label: Inchgower
Whiskey Type: Single malt scotch whisky
Mash Bill Percentages: 100% malted barley
Proof: 117.8°
Age: 13 years (distilled in 1994 and bottled in June 2007)
Further identification: On the front label: "Specially selected by Malt Distillery Managers within Diageo Distilling Ltd and bottled at natural strength", which was selected by manager Ian Breen
Nose: My goodness, upon lifting the glass, I find myself in the midst of a field of wildflowers, the bees buzzing along happily ignoring my presence. A wave of honeysuckle swirls into the nostrils as jasmine, vanilla, and lavender wash over the senses. When I talk about the ephemeral beauty of whisky, this type of whisky is precisely what I am thinking of. This glass is beauty, nostalgia, and perfection in a moment. It's stopping to pay attention to the sounds of nature in the aromatic garden. It's a 1998 box of honeycomb cereal. It's comfortable, like lying in bed late into the morning as the bright sun tries to peer through the blinds covering the windows. The empty glass smells of simple scones, and a full circle return to the field of wildflowers.
Palate: Upon sipping this liquid silk, a surprise punch of wood spice tingles across the tongue. Sipping it feels like having a malt on the bartop of your favorite pub. I find lemon tea, hibiscus, grenadine, and pomegranate as I sip through patiently. It's a tingly, effervescent dram with a mouth coating that lingers long in a way that feels like you've just had a great, creamy cigar. Hints of allspice, clove, and black pepper are surprising but quite welcome in the linger. Sipping late in the glass offers some sweet honey butter tones that remind me of the legendary old Clynelish B malts. My last sip is a delicate dance between creamy, sweet, and spiced—everything I look for in a complex, robust, and delicious whisky. It finishes resinous, fat, and creamy all the way through with some vegetal undertones.
This is a wonderful single malt whisky.
Nose: Immediately, my eyes flutter shut, and my mind exhales a wistful sigh of appreciation. I'm taken to a seaside town in the middle of a farmer's market as a lightly salted breeze mixes with smells of soft baked pretzels, jars of artisan honey, and oversized crêpes filled with cream and strawberries. Upon deeper inhales, freshly cut flowers bloom from the glass, roses, and gardenia stems, plucked from black buckets and wrapped in a simple white paper. Goodness, I could spend hours with this nose, lounging, legs crossed, smiling wide. The empty glencairn smells like a sparkling saltwater pool surrounded by prairie grasses and purple clovers.
Palate: Wow. The soft velvet mouthfeel is a beautiful juxtaposition to the burst of spices jumping on my tastebuds. I want to linger on the intro, but the flavors transition gorgeously, like a perfectly curated album meant to be listened to in original song order. There's lemon black tea with spoonfuls of honey, tingly black pepper, rich brown clove, and creamy hints of ruby red grapefruit. There's a comfortable beauty to this sip like a familiar night sky cluttered with stars and the awe felt every time you look up. The linger is long and evolving. This dram is determined to not be forgotten any time soon. My final sips are abundantly creamy with a wonderful heat of sweetness. The finish is as wistful as the first smell, with eyes closed and a mind swooning over this delightful whisky.
TL;DR: creamy, sweet, and spicy notes will guide you on this wistful journey of complex flavors
Rating: 4.5/5
Fans of bolder, spicier American whiskey like bourbon and rye will find a lot to love in this dram. Sip this alongside the 1990s hit "The Power" by SNAP! for maximal enjoyment.
Written by: The Amongst the Whiskey Team
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