Kininvie 23 Year Old 1991

Believe it or not, this is the very first time that I taste a Kininvie single malt! I tried it first at the Antwerp Whisky & Spirits Festival and took home a sample. I was really pleasantly surprised – by the whisky, not the price tag.

The nose is very delicate and silky soft on citrus and grass, loads of vanilla and subtle notes of honey. It even has – albeit way in the back – some damp earth and something milky. With some imagination, I can even still smell the barley.

It is wonderfully fresh and zesty – mostly citrus now. Mild on the spices too: cinnamon, ginger and a pinch of nutmeg. It does taste younger than its 23 years though. It is fresh and lively, almost playful. Nice continuation of the nose, upholstered with some white chocolate and icing sugar. The citrus evolves towards blood oranges, which I find quite pleasant. Lastly, there is also a mildly floral note.

The finish is actually quite short, but zesty and fresh. The spices of the wood fade away quickly.

Light, aperitif style single malt. Quite lovely, but prohibitively expensive. A half bottle has a price tag of 150 EUR, which is over the top.