One other head-to-head comparability right this moment, of two 49 12 months outdated single grain whiskies. One is an Invergordon 1973 from the newest batch of The Whisky Company bottlings. The opposite is an Invergordon 1972 not too long ago bottled by Maltbarn. Two top quality bottlers and curiously each have a comparatively low alcohol power – this could possibly be attention-grabbing.
Invergordon 49 yo 1973 (40,3%, The Whisky Company 2022, bourbon barrel, 191 btl.)
Nostril: actually smooth and velvety. Vanilla cake with beneficiant varnished notes and leather-based. Flowery honey, soaked grains, in addition to stewed bananas, baked apples and a few quince jelly within the background. Gentle whiffs of pencil shavings, however very casually. Actually elegant and properly rounded.
Mouth: a pleasant mixture of dry notes and bitter touches. Apples (each inexperienced and yellow) with hints of berries. Tobacco leaves, eucalyptus, a lot of minty notes. Inexperienced tea with citrus notes and honey. Whereas the sourness can be the results of the wooden, there’s no woody astringency as such.
End: medium lengthy, nonetheless a mixture of bitter fruits, leather-based, cake and honey.
A reasonably refined Invergordon – solely rounded and honeyed with a number of bitter drops including vibrancy. Nonetheless obtainable in a number of shops round Holland and Germany, however largely gone.
Invergordon 49 yo 1972 (44,4%, Maltbarn 2021, bourbon cask, 87 btl.)
Nostril: every part is bolder right here. There’s slightly nailpolish and paint, alongside varnished wooden. Leathery notes once more. Then extra bourbonny spice, like white pepper and cinnamon. Vanilla, marzipan and peach within the background.
Mouth: mintier at first, then changing into barely dusty and darker. Previous leather-bound books, hints of tea and tobacco. Pepper and sweetmint. Hints of ginger. Then some outdated sugarcane rum, candy liquorice and honey. Delicate rye spice too.
End: medium lengthy, with varnished notes, candy grains and extra floral honey.
Much less refined than the Whisky Company bottling, with extra spice popping out. Nonetheless a really balanced grain whisky although, admittedly with a barely increased complexity. Rating: 89/100
