Description

Inchgower 2011 Aged 13 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Cask Strength Collection Signatory Vintage #108 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 59.6%           Age: 13 Years Old         Country: Scotland

Cask Number(s): #108
Date of Distilling: 15.11.2011
Date of Bottling: 02.05.2025
Matured In: 1st Fill Marsala Hogshead
Un-Chillfiltered

The Whisky

Prepare for a rare encounter with the “salt of the Highlands” in the Signatory Vintage Inchgower 13 Year Old 2011 (Cask #108). This 700ml single malt is an extraordinary entry in the Cask Strength Collection, offering a departure from traditional oak. Distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2025, this expression underwent a full term maturation in a single Marsala Wine Hogshead.

Presented at a staggering 59.6% ABV, this is Inchgower in its most concentrated form. While the distillery is legendary for its coastal, waxy, and slightly spicy spirit, the 13 years spent in a Sicilian Marsala cask have added a dense, Mediterranean sweetness. As a single cask release, it is non-chill filtered and natural in color, presenting a deep, bronzed-amber glow that hints at the vinous treasure within.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Intense, “chewy,” and deeply vinous. You are greeted by the aroma of steamed date pudding and sticky figs, followed by a bright, Mediterranean layer of apricot preserve and honeyed almonds. As it opens, the Marsala influence reveals sophisticated notes of tobacco leaf and toasted walnuts, underpinned by Inchgower’s signature maritime air and a hint of salinity.

Palate: The arrival is thick and decadent—a “flavor bomb” on the tongue. It delivers a primary burst of baked brown sugar and caramelised ginger, which quickly evolves into a mid-palate of candied citrus peel and dark chocolate-covered raisins. The waxy texture of the spirit provides a perfect canvas for the wine-cask influence, layering sweet vermouth notes and balsamic glaze over a robust malty core.

Finish: Long, warming, and remarkably waxy. The finish lingers with a final flourish of salted caramel and poached pears, finally tapering off with a clean, dry trail of grape skins and a lingering maritime tang.

The Distillery

Inchgower, located on the outskirts of Buckie near the mouth of the River Spey, was founded in 1871. A unique factual detail: It is often described as the most “maritime” of all Speyside-area malts because of its extreme proximity to the North Sea. The spirit is highly prized by blenders for its waxy mouthfeel and spicy, salty backbone, acting as the heart of the Bell’s blend. Because official bottlings are almost non-existent (outside of the rare Flora & Fauna release), single cask expressions like this Signatory Cask #108 are the only way to experience the distillery’s “unpolished” beauty, particularly when combined with the rare, syrupy influence of a Marsala cask.

Overall Review

The Inchgower 13 Year Old 2011 Signatory Cask #108 is globally reviewed as a “connoisseur’s curiosity,” praised for its bold marriage of salt and sweet wine. Critics have lauded its “textural depth and unusual flavour profile,” marking it as a mandatory purchase for those who love the waxy profile of Clynelish but want to see it amplified by the rich, oxidative fruitiness of a full term wine maturation.