Inchgower 2010/2023 - Sansibar
Sometimes you get a whisky in your glass that feels as if it has just come out of the cask. The Inchgower 2010/2023 from Sansibar with 57.6% ABV is just such a case: young, fresh, straight from nature - but also a little unfinished.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose is crisp and fresh: green apple, a hint of pineapple and damp wood, as if it had just rained. There is also a fine herbal note reminiscent of herbal tea. Very green, very lively - but also without great depth. You can tell that wood had little to do here.
Palate
It starts off sweet and juicy on the tongue: apple, a light tropical note and a fine dryness. But then it suddenly comes round the corner with white pepper and provides a bit of action. It remains a young, direct flavour - not complex, but certainly entertaining.
Finish
Hardly any oak, but the sweet-fruity line continues with a tingling finish. At the very end, there is a slight bitterness that is not disturbing, but does not necessarily provide a rounded finish. You simply realise that the cask has only been working on the back burner here.
Thoughts
Marcel 71/100
A whisky that delights with fresh fruitiness and a hint of pepper, though it could benefit from a bit more time in the cask – perfect for those who appreciate straightforward drinking pleasure without any fuss.
Sascha 71/100
The Inchgower 2010/2023 presents itself with clear fruit notes and a noticeable pepperiness, but remains somewhat unbalanced due to the weak influence of the cask, showing that a more complex maturation would have served it well.
Value for Money: Fair
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69/100Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Inchgower 2010/2023 taste so fresh and show little wood influence?
The whisky was bottled relatively young at 57.6% ABV after 12 years of maturation, during which the cask imparted only a subtle influence. As a result, fruity and green notes like apple and pineapple dominate, while woody aromas remain restrained.
How does the high strength of 57.6% ABV affect the flavor of the Inchgower 2010/2023?
The high alcohol level delivers an intense flavor experience with robust spiciness, such as white pepper. At the same time, the whisky stays fresh and lively, emphasizing its direct and youthful character.
What makes the Inchgower 2010/2023 from Sansibar stand out compared to other Speyside whiskies?
It impresses with its unusually green and fresh aroma profile without heavy wood notes, making it vibrant and easily approachable. Additionally, being an independent bottling at a high strength is quite rare and appeals to lovers of straightforward, unadulterated whiskies.