Whisky: Invergordon 35 Year (1987), Thompson Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland Grain

ABV: 54.3%

Cask: Refill Barrel

Age: 35 Years (Distilled 16 Dec. 1987, Bottled Jan. 2023)

Nose: Marshmallow, almond, vanilla, refined sugar, butter, desiccated coconut, donuts, plastic, coffee.

Palate: Medium-bodied, mild, marshmallow, vanilla, almond, hazelnut, caramel, hints of cocoa, pastries, coffee, butter.

Finish: Long, slightly drying, and sweet with refined sugars and nutty coffee cake.

Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: Convenience Store Coffeeshop

Narrative & Notes: Creamy marshmallow and French vanilla drifted in the vapors with refined sugars, butter, and almond. Marzipan and almond-flour pastries faded as desiccated coconut and donuts in a warm plastic pastry display case arrived with stale convenience store macadamia nut-flavored coffee. Medium-bodied and mild with plenty of marshmallows and French vanilla-flavored coffee carrying creamy notions of vanilla, almond, and eventually macadamia nut. Hazelnut coffee cakes with caramel drizzle and a touch of cocoa lingered with buttery shortbread and blondie bars. The finish was long, slightly drying, and sweet with refined sugars and nutty coffee cake.

Wow— this had all the decadence of a slightly inebriated late-night 7-11 run; a quick dash to the convenience store to grab coffee to sober up and whatever pastries lingered in the display case with hints of the chemical roach trap bait set someone in the store. The only thing missing from this whisky was the late night spam musubi or pork hash. No, this was the marshmallows you grab when the sugar craving hits.

Overall, wonderful stuff— exactly what you want from a well-aged grain, with more distinct notes and definition than usual.  The aroma was rich, the palate a bit light, but the finish wonderfully long.

Image Credit: RyeamLegend, check out his wonderful review and photos through the link.