Inchgower : 26 Year Old Refill Sherry Butt Gordon & MacPhail 1998

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Inchgower 26 Years Old Refill Sherry Butt Gordon & MacPhail 1998

Tasting

Nose
The nose opens with rich, indulgent aromas of milk chocolate, cooked grapes and dried figs. It then evolves towards darker notes of molasses toffee and roasted coffee beans, all subtly balanced by a touch of citrus and vanilla.

Palate
The attack is marked by spicy oak that structures the palate, swiftly giving way to deep flavours of stewed plum and chocolate. A beautiful tension sets in thanks to nuances of Seville orange and black pepper. The medium-length finish stretches out on fresh citrus, oak and an elegant hint of aniseed.

Pairings and tasting moments

This complex single malt is ideally enjoyed neat, or with a very light drop of water, in a tulip-shaped or Glencairn glass at a moderate temperature. Perfect for a contemplative tasting at the end of a meal, its rich aromatic profile pairs wonderfully with chocolate and dried fruit desserts, such as a fondant, a walnut brownie or a fig pudding. It can also accompany a plum tart or preparations based on orange marmalade.

Mixology

As an exceptional single cask, very old and bottled at its natural strength, this whisky is intended almost exclusively for neat tasting. Its use in mixology remains highly marginal in order to preserve and not mask the great complexity of its aromatic profile.

An Inchgower Single Malt of great maturity and rich indulgence

Inchgower: the coastal soul of Speyside and the Gordon & MacPhail expertise

Founded in 1871 by Alexander Wilson near the town of Buckie, Inchgower is a singular Speyside distillery, literally facing the North Sea. Its production tools, characterised by stills with steeply descending lyne arms and a short fermentation, forge an oily, spicy and saline distillate. Now owned by the Diageo group, almost all of its output is destined for blends. This is where Gordon & MacPhail comes in, an independent bottler founded in 1895 in Elgin and still owned by the Urquhart family. A true expert in maturation, this family house brings this confidential Scotch whisky to light through discerning selections, revealing all the complexity and unique character of the Inchgower distillate.

The unique expression of the 26 Years Old Refill Sherry Butt Gordon & MacPhail 1998

This exceptional Single Malt is the result of a distillation carried out in 1998. Patiently aged for over a quarter of a century, this 26 Years Old Refill Sherry Butt Gordon & MacPhail rested exclusively in refill sherry cask number 11274. This long maturation allows for a subtle interaction between the wood and the distillate, offering a perfect balance without ever masking the intrinsic character of the distillery.

Bottled on 6 March 2025 within the prestigious Connoisseurs Choice range, this Scotch whisky is offered at its natural cask strength of 54.8% vol., in a 70 cl bottle. The choice of a Refill Sherry Butt brings a remarkable indulgent depth, marked by notes of dried fruit and chocolate, which sublimates the spicy, nutty and slightly saline base typical of Inchgower. Presented in an elegant gift box, this limited edition from a single cask is aimed at enlightened enthusiasts seeking an authentic and very old expression of a rare coastal malt.