Whisky: Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 28 Year (1993), WhiskySponge No. 53

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 50.7%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 28 Year (Distilled 1993, Bottled 2022)

Nose: Musty tropical fruits, mountain guava, lychee and rambutan with pits, tangerine, tangy green tomato, black vinegar, woody antique furniture

Palate: Medium-bodied musty tropical fruit and antique lace, citrus, hints of butter and cream, wood, dried palm fronds, roasted barley tea, hints of chocolate, chicory, and white pepper.

Finish: Medium-length and drying with subtle tropical fruit, earth, and spice.

Score: 7-8

Mental Image: Backyard Carport Foraging

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was initially quite fruity with lovely overripe mountain guava fallen along a hiking trail, fleshy lychee and rambutan with their woody pits, and a sweet, slightly diluted, tangerine soda. As the fruit took on more wood and a lively tanginess, I found green tomatoes, musty black vinegar, and caramel alongside dusty wooden antique furniture. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile closely mirrored the nose with a touch more mustiness to the fruit and wood. Mountain guava and lychee provided a tropical zip with musty antique lace with hints of lemon and lavender. A mild butter and cream developed on the mid-palate with earth, finished wood, dried palm fronds, and roasted barley tea. Hints of cocoa powder, chicory, and white pepper lingered at the end, with the cocoa more prevalent after a few drops of water. The finish was medium-length and drying with subtle tropical fruit, earth, and spice.

Not a boring whisky! Few of the flavors here were exceptionally straightforward and it sometimes felt as though everything hit at the same time. I thought this was a lot of fun to pick through and sip on while slowly trying to identify some reference points to what I was tasting. I enjoyed returning to this whisky as my impression improved each time I sat with it. Some of the woodiness I initially found a bit off-putting fell further into the background, relegated to the finish with some slightly astringent barley tea, while tropical fruits and an earthy mustiness came to the fore.

Overall, a complex affair with a relatively demanding whisky.