Invergordon 35 Years (1987/2023) - Murray McDavid
Yet another 1987 vintage on the blog – Marcel's vintage seems to attract such bottles like magic. This Invergordon 35 Years from the Mission Gold series by Murray McDavid relies on a PX finish and presents itself as a Single Grain from the Highlands with a clear cask signature. The result is a mellow dram in which mature grain and aged sweetness are not allowed on stage alone.
Tasting Notes
Nose
On the nose, lots of ripe grain and lots of cask influence meet each other, surprisingly balanced and without much jostling. Added to that are wood spice, a bit of dark chocolate, and that slightly wine gum-like aroma of the grain, which gives the whole thing a charmingly quirky twist. Unfortunately, a hint of wine acidity also slips in, which is not entirely disturbing, but does make its presence noticeably felt.
Palate
On the palate, it starts dry with cake, dried fruits, dates, leather, a bit of bitterness, and plenty of wood. The mix of intense cask character and the typical grain notes in the background remains intact, although cask and wine acidity are clearly more dominant here. Thanks to clean PX sweetness, 35 years of maturation, and pleasing 48.1 percent, the whisky nevertheless remains easy to drink and quite enjoyable. Added to that are warehouse wood, a hint of licorice, and a complex, slightly sweet reprise on the second sip.
Finish
The finish is somewhat dry, with little pepper and a softer rather than forceful profile. Fruitcake, wood, and a certain impression reminiscent of Irish whiskey shape the picture. It is medium-long, not particularly complex, and somewhat flat in mouthfeel, but overall pleasant.
Thoughts
Marcel 79/100 - (Very good)
For me, a 1987 is of course never evaluated entirely neutrally – the vintage bonus is cheekily sitting there in the glass as well. Still, the impression remains clear: the sherry cask has taken over a bit too much here, so that not all that much of the classic grain notes remains. It is pleasant enough, but more cask show than grain celebration.
Sascha 77/100 - (Very good)
The cask is quite clearly in the foreground, and not just politely at the edge, but right in the spotlight. In some places, this tips into overly dominant, slightly bitter notes, which throws the dram somewhat out of balance. All in all, though, it remains a solid grain that is still fun despite its rough edges.
Value for Money: 3/5 (Fair)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How strongly does the PX finish shape this Invergordon 35 Years?
Very clearly. According to the notes, cask influence, PX sweetness, dried fruits and wine acidity are clearly in the foreground, while the classic grain notes work more in the background.
Is the whisky more grain-typical or cask-driven?
Clearly cask-driven. Mature grain is present, but it is clearly overlaid by wood, sherry influence, dried fruits and noticeable spice.
How does the finish come across in this Single Grain?
The finish is soft, somewhat dry and medium-long. Fruitcake, wood and little pepper define the aftertaste, which is pleasant but not particularly complex.
