Invergordon 43yo 1972/2016 (49.3%, A.D. Rattray The Whisky Angel, C#38): from the get-go, this one showcases its provenance: it bursts with blackcurrants. It has warm bread underneath, crusty, fluffy, and straight out of the oven. Strangely, it is truly bread instead of pastry, in this one. Further are a hot metal plate (presumably the one the bread has been baking on), and apricot compote, as well as a wooden cutting board, still warm and damp after having been in the dishwasher. The second nose has a lovely pineapple purée that complements the blackcurrant like Gordon complements MacPhail. It is strikingly not as woody as could be expected, after so long in the cask, and it has little of the glue, solvents and varnish that grain whiskies tend to bring. Oh! sure, it has esters, but they carry fruits, not solvents. Mouth: woah! This is juicy, ripe with apricot compote for a fleeting second, then an onslaught of blackcurrant jelly. Said jelly is at once hot and sweet, with wood spices aplenty (cinnamon powder, ground cardamom and ground cumin), and the natural sugar from the gorgeous fruits. It is tempting to look past that and find mango chutney -- and indeed, the fruity sweetness, hand in hand with a spiciness, at times flirting with nigella seeds, do suggest that. In truth, it is probably closer to banana purée than mangoes, though. The creamy texture confirms squashed banana too. Blackcurrant-laced squashed banana, with a dollop of strawberry yoghurt and a spoonful of black cumin seeds sprinkled on top. Finish: hugely fruity, still dominated by the trademark blackcurrant, although blackberry might be in the equation too, now. This finish is long and comforting, a little sweet, a little acidic. Blackcurrant turnovers turn up, custard-y and buttery, and with them is the memory of the metal plate they baked on. That metallic note is now very faint, especially when compared with the nose, yet it is there alright. Over time, what appeared to be custard seems to morph into squashed banana in the finish too, which is very pleasant, provided one likes banana. The strawberry yoghurt is more discreet, here, yet still present. The bitterness of a metal spoon remains in the mouth for a little while. I should have bought this, at the time. Ah, well. 9/10
Happy birthday, MPD.
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