(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Whisky Tasting, 9th July 2021). Nose: Sweet, orchard fruit (pears & apples), boiled sweets, caramel/toffee, vanilla Palate: Quite ‘hot’. Sour dried fruit, vanilla, spices (ginger, chilli, white pepper). There are hints of Simpkins travel sweets, too. Finish: Medium finish. Citrus and orchard fruit on the finish. Quite oaky on the aftertaste. Spirit has been matured in a combination of bourbon barrels, sherry butts and wine barriques. All of the barley used in this expression was grown within the original Abbey grounds. The first record of distillation in Scotland was at Lindores Abbey back in 1494. There were excise records from the production of Aqua Vitae (medicinal tonic) rather than whisky, but it is still an interesting exercise to start distilling again on this historic site. There’s a lot of promise in this whisky. At the moment, it’s quite ‘hot’ and a little sour on the palate, with a kick of oak on the finish. The distillers we’re aiming for a fruity style and I think they have been successful in this aim, although obviously matured in an active cask that has served to dry the finish.