Region: Speyside

Location: Buckie, Banffshire

Status: Operational (owned by Diageo)

General whisky characteristics: Herbal, floral, aromatic leather

More great distillery info here thanks to Malt Madness

Distillery photos by kind permission of Teun Van Wel

Independent Bottlers

Exclusive Malts, Inchgower, distilled 20.09.1974, 34y, 49.7% ABV

cask #7881, one of 187 bottles

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Spiegelau

Colour: Rich gold, almost amber

Nose: Delightfully aromatic and floral with hints of leather and polished wood. As the minutes pass the leather and wood fade, whereas the floral elements increase.

Palate: Smooth, rich, fantastically perfumed flora.

With 4 drops of water: Slightly weaker nose, but smoother and even more floral palate.

Finish: Long. Even longer with water. Never-ending perfume & flora.

Overall Impression: Great, smashing, super! I really love this dram. Why did I get such a small sample. Where's the full bottle?

James McArthur, Inchgower, 12y, 59% ABV

bottled Feb. 1991

Typical cost of this bottle; originally €€€€€

Glass: Spiegelau

Colour: light gold, pale yellow

Nose: Herbs and spices but with plenty of spirit (due to the 59%). Nicely aromatic.

Palate: Initially smooth but soon expanding to a spirity tingle with all that alcohol. There's definitely some ery aromatic leather.

With 6 drops of water in about 2cl: A much more aromatic nose with herbs, leather and gentle oak. The palate is smooth and warming before very aromatic, almost perfumed leather and oak expand across the palate.

With 6 further drops of water in about 1cl:  Aromatic, slightly perfumed hay, grasses, leather and wonderful countryside.

Finish: Long and aromatic, maybe slightly dry.

Overall Impression: A thoroughly enjoyable dram. I really like it! But at this ABV you really need water to bring the best out.