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KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar Day 15: Inchmurrin 12 Year Old

Posted on December 15, 2021

by Evan

Door number 15 reveals another treat from Loch Lomond Distillery for us to delve into. This time we will be tasting the Inchmurrin 12-Year-Old!

We talked about Loch Lomond Distillery when we tasted the Loch Lomond Original back on Day 6 of our 2021 KWM Whisky Calendar. In that post, I mentioned how this mad scientist's laboratory of a distillery creates a plethora of different styles. Well, Inchmurrin is one of those styles! 

Loch Lomond makes and has made many styles of whisky over the years and many are given different names. This can all be confusing for the consumer. What are you buying if you purchase a Croftengea? Or an Old Rhosdhu? Or an Inchfad? How about a Craiglodge? All of these names have been used for different Loch Lomond styles over the years, but the company behind the distillery has worked on streamlining the Loch Lomond brand to three main releases.

These three types of Loch Lomond show differently from one another and are given different names and descriptors on the bottle. The main style is named after Loch Lomond itself. It shows light to moderate peat along with fruit and spice.

The other two styles are in what the company calls The Island Collection, as they take their names from islands within the Loch.

One is Inchmoan, which amps up the peat and spice.

The other, which we will be tasting today is Inchmurrin, which is unpeated and shows a lighter, more floral and fruity character.

There are a total of thirteen stills within the Loch Lomond Distillery, however, they are not all the same. Included in this number are your typical swan-neck style pot stills: the type you see at most Scottish distilleries that make single malt whisky. Beyond that though, things get weird. There are also three pairs of straight-neck pot stills, which are sometimes called Lomond stills. One of these pairs has a water cooling system installed on the top of the still that the heated vapour hits before going through the narrowing neck/pipe for collection. This results in much more reflux and leads to a lighter, softer, fruitier spirit being produced.

The Inchmurrin style is produced using one of these straight neck "Lomond" Stills, as shown below.

Image taken found on the @LochLomondMalts Twitter feed

Sometimes called the 'Grassy Isle' the Island of Inchmurrin that this style takes its name from is the largest island within the Loch itself. At 120 hectares in size, it is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles. The Isle of Inchmurrin - or Mirin's Island - is named after St Mirin. A monastery built on the island in the seventh century held a chapel dedicated to the Saint, though only ruins now remain.

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12-Year-Old - 46%

Made from using straight necked "Lomond" stills. Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks, refill casks and re-charred casks for at least 12 years. 46%, non-chill-filtered.

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: Fruity, floral and doughy on the nose with a touch of waxiness as well. Lychee, mango, and dragonfruit - all dusted with icing sugar. A dash of citrus, soft vanilla and lightly toasted oak and blueberry yogurt.

Palate: Juicy followed by mixed nuts and wood spices. Tangerines, pink grapefruit, strawberries, apples with cinnamon, and a saskatoon berry pie a la mode, 

Finish: Light and floral with a combination of creamy and salty, cashews and a side of pear nectar.

Comment: Such a juicy dram. Like laying in a bed of fruit, surrounded by flowers and soft oak. Delicious!

That hit me right in my soft spot for Loch Lomond, that is for sure! I am consistently impressed with their core range and how many different sides of Loch Lomond we get to see within it. Now, I wonder what tomorrow will bring? See you then!

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool

This entry was posted in Whisky, Tastings, Whisky Calendars, KWM Whisky Calendar 2021

 

 

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