Inverleven 1985 Gordon & Macphail

Inverleven is an unknown Lowlander, founded in 1938 by Hiram Walker & Sons on the terrains of the Dumbarton Grain Distillery and closed in 1991 by then-owners Chivas Brothers. She took her water from Loch Lomond. The production went into Ballantine’s mostly. In the meantime, she has been torn down. So it is a lost distillery. However. Rumour has it that some of the materiel was shipped to Islay, where it will serve Bruichladdich’s plans for the resurrection of Lochindaal Distillery. We are trying a bottling from 1995 by Gordon & Macphail from Elgin. This is my first ever Inverleven!

The nose is fresh and floral, but after a few moments fruity as well. Think loads of oranges and few apricots. Reminds me a bit of orange lemonade. Fanta! Incredibly soft. Nothing fancy, but not bad either.

The palate is rather weak, unfortunately. Watery attack with mild spices. This really tastes like Fanta as well, no kidding. Well, Fanta with some alcohol. Midpalate it turns a tad bitter from the orange peel.

The finish is short, rather drying and a touch bitter.

For a first encounter with Inverlever, it is not too bad, but this is clearly a whisky meant for blending purposes. Very docile and not very challenging.

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