Whisky : Invergorden 31 Year; Dramfool

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland (Single Grain)

ABV : 52.8%

Cask : Oloroso Sherry Butt

Age : 31 Years (Distilled 1987, Bottled 2019)

Nose : Cherry pie, stewed rhubarb, faint melon, and gooey brownies.  Baked pie crust came through along with buttery pancakes, ice cream, and a well frosted gingerbread house.  Slightly funky sherry notes of rubber slipper and balloon animals, though a few drops of water centered the nose on sweet caramel and fudge.

Palate : Medium bodied and oily with a mild astringency that developed on the end.  Cherry pie, Nestle chocolate syrup, and fruity jam dominated the palate.  More subtle notes of dried persimmons, pudding, cinnamon sticks, rubber slippers, and coconut oil hung in the background. 

Finish : Long and lingering dried fruits.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Grandma’s Spiced Cherry Pie

Something Worse : Jura 20 Year “One and All” (similar persimmon, oiliness, rubber, more dried grass)

Something Worse : Blair Athol 8Y SMWS 68.28 (similar persimmon, dried fruits, more berries)

Notes : This Invergorden certainly made for a tasty and different dram.  After three decades in an oloroso butt this was not your usual single grain fare.  While there were some slightly off rubbery notes, a few drops of water buried those and highlighted a lot more of the sweet gooey caramel character of the spirit and fudge notes of the cask.  Gentle spices and died fruits combined wonderfully with faintly creamy notes of coconut and pudding.  

Overall, this was not really my style, I prefer stronger malty backbone to any dram loaded up oloroso notes, but I can definitely see the appeal for those who really enjoy a heavy sherry influence and the subtle (dare I say smooth) flavor profile of an older grain.