Invergordon 1964, bottled June 2013, 48 yo, Hunter Laing
A first! This is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky, form a single cask, distilled at Invergordon in 1964.
Ok so that means it is the product of one distillery, distilled from grain (corn in this case) and not ‘malt’- malted barley, in Coffey stills (continuous stills). Note that in Scotland, even if a whisky was distilled from unmalted barley in pot stills, a la some Irish whisky, it would still count as a grain whisky.
A little about Invergordon itself: Founded in 1961 to provide local employment up in the North East along the Cromarty Firth (close to Glenmorangie and Dalmore) after the Royal Navy left its local port. Initially founded by the Invergordon Distillers ltd, this close connection to Dalmore’s Whyte and Mackay would culminate with a buyout in 1993. Today it’s 40 million plus litres of spirit a year would feed the blends of the Whyte and Mackay group.
Invergordon Distillers themselves in their time did leave their mark on whisky. The short lived Ben Wyvis distillery was a creation within Invergordon’s sprawling industrial complex. They also had a hand in the founding of Tamnavulin, and at various points ownership of Tamnavulin, Bruichladdich, Isle of Jura and Glenallachie before its own acquisition.
Invergordon 1964, bottled June 2013, 48 yo, Hunter Laing, cask ref 9861, 43.7%
Nose: Obviously well acquainted with the insides of an ex bourbon barrel. That said, it’s beautifully round and sweet, as opposed to sharply spiced. Toffee crisps and caramel corn pops. leather cream and seasoned leather. Ok not without some cloves that show up after a few moments. Dry splitting wood and a light cherry fruitiness.
Palette: Mellow, dry aromatics of toffee and dry wood, and not even ‘sweet’ as suggested by the nose. But a nice spicy prickle is well balanced with some sourness, like cinnamon and clove, foiled by some sour dill and lemon. Then the bourbony elements return to bring up the rear, which comes surprisingly quick. Hmm…
Finish: Rather long, more toffee, and hints of woodspice.
Sits very close to bourbon thanks to the time it’s spent in wood – but a very fine, very mature and aromatically balanced bourbon it could be mistaken for: one well past its equivalent price point? Very sweetly aromatic without actually being sweet, and also very ‘comfortable’.
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