It is recorded that in 1494, Brother John Cor of Lindores Abbey was commissioned by King James IV to distill him some spirit, providing 8 bolls of malt as the raw material. Brother John complied, firing up the stills to make what is now recognised as the first official record of Scotch whisky being produced! Many centuries have passed since those times and the Abbey has certainly witnessed some history. By the 1600s, parts were dismantled, with the site serving as a quarry for stone, slate, and carvings which were used to build houses in the nearby town. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the site has been lovingly redeveloped into a stunning distillery, with its stills firing up in 2017, 523 years after that first recorded distillation. It is an exciting time indeed that the new distillery has now reached a point where it can start to release its own single malt, and this beauty right here has been matured exclusively in bourbon barrels for three years. A wonderful sipper and marvellous sign of things to come from this fledgling distillery. Bottled up at a limited edition ABV of 49.4% ABV – get it, like 1494 and the times of Brother John Cor? At least we think that was intentional.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose Laid-back wafts of vanilla welcome the way for buttery barley, whilst heaps of fresh orchard fruits balance gently zesty, peppery oak.
Palate Sweet and tangy cooked apples, like a good crumble with a nice tart edge to balance sweet vanilla ice cream. Fiery ginger and prickles of green peppercorn poke through bringing some heat.
Finish Mellow vanilla continues, with more sweet apple and pear, but a bittersweet woody spice creeps in, backing up lingering peppery warmth.