28/03/2022 Invergordon

Invergordon 32yo 1988/2020 (50.1%, CWC The Electric Coo Series, finished in ex-Brandy Butt): nose: the traditional grain markers are mahoosive, here; nail varnish, wood lacquer, new lacquered shoes (it was the Academy awards last night, after all), glazed doughnuts. It is only by insisting on finding them that currants painstakingly come tickle the nostrils -- and even then, that takes a while. On the other hand, we have old, woodworm-eaten bookcases appearing, as well as oven-roasted banana skins. There is something more acidic too: a drop of white wine, maybe, or simply green-grape juice. In any case, that acidity is discreet to a fault. Dusty wood is much louder. The second nose clarifies that impression: dry lichen on old staves, old dunnage warehouse, in which the humidity level has dropped too low. Later yet, it is a Bulgomme non-slip table protector. Mouth: it is a different story on the tongue. Waxy, oily and pretty acidic to boot. Here are grapefruit and dates, combined into a super-thick paste. The second sip focuses on that and turns into stale Tubblegum. The grapefruit becomes this unusual chewy number, perhaps stale Sugus, if they ever made grapefruit-flavoured ones. I can almost feel currants trying to come through, but it ain't happening. Finish: surprisingly consistent with the mouth, the finish sees Play-Doh, chewy grapefruit segments coated in Golden Syrup and dried dates of the kind that sticks to every single tooth. However, it has remnants of the dusty old wood, initially encountered on the nose. Further sipping dials down the woody tones, which allows acidic-sweet fruits to shine -- again, grapefruit, but this has pineapple too. In the longer run, a fresh mintiness lingers, as if to remind the drinker that mojito season is almost here. Quite different from the first time. Has it spent too long in an open sample? Doubtful. Anyway, decent, unchallenging grain. 7/10