Helmets on! Inchmurrin fruit explosion incoming!

The discovery of “Littmillesque” Inchmurrin from the Loch Lomond Distillery is often attributed to independent bottlers The WhiskyNerds with their three-way release of the “Trias Usquebaugh”. It was my pride and joy to be included in the creation of these bottlings, working on the labels for each expression, called Law, Order and Executive. Recently, I was in contact with one of my regular hobbyist suppliers of samples, and I discovered he had an Inchmurrin 2003 in his list. This one was bottled half a year before the more well-known WhiskyNerds expressions came out. Those were also 2003 vintages. I am curious to see if the same insane tropical fruitiness can be found in this single cask.

Inchmurrin 2003, 13 years old, bottled at 55,4 % abv

Makeup: This Inchmurrin matured from 2003 until 2007 in a Refill Barrel and then spent the remainder of the years in Second Fill PX Barrel. Cask reference is 7/160-5 and this was bottled for The Distillery in London. Weirdly, this bottle has a screwcap.

General impressions: Well, ding ding ding! We have a winner. Sticking the nose in the glass, the burst of tropical fruit is undeniable. Lots of mango, sweet pineapple, pomegranate, canned peaches on syrup and loads of red fruit based biological candy. Over here we have Bear Snacks. I had my worries when I read about the double maturation of this whisky, but I think we are saved by the fact it was not an aggressive sherry cask on the second part of the journey.

Taking a sip, I fear I have to correct myself. The PX influence is felt a whole lot more, but this is just in the beginning. After a while delicate wood spices balance out the palate, and when you move on to the finish you will experience this fantastic taste explosion of all these tropical influences again. There is a slight edge from alcohol heat that prompted me to add some water. That turns this Inchmurrin in regular fruit juice with an edge of rum. How very interesting.

Conclusion: This whisky took me by surprise! A weird maturation history, a weird bottle with a screwcap. All the ingredients for a mediocre whisky. But on the contrary, this is the kind of fruit juice that hardcore whisky enthusiast look for in their Tomatin and BenRiach from 1976. This is another gem in that category.

Score: 90 points

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