Lindores Abbey @TweetTastings

In 1191 on the banks of the Estuary of the River Tay, to the east of Newburgh, David, Earl of Huntingdon, built the ‘Church by the Water’. It was built with local red sandstone, and covered a very large area, the extent of which is still discernible today The position of the Abbey was chosen because of its plentiful supply of timber and stone, and for the swift running waters of the Pow of Lindores running over the land down to the Tay.

Sometime after that the Monks started distilling Aqua Vitae, it must have been good stuff as in 1494 The Friar, a John Cor, was commissioned to turn 8 bolls of malt, enough to make about 400 bottles of today’s whisky, into Aqua Vitae for then then King, James IV.

The current 'owners' of the Abbey are trying to preserve it's remains and bring back distilling with the building of a new distillery. The spirit at Lindores Abbey started flowing in 2017 at what they rightly claim to be "The Spiritual Home of Scotch Whisky".

Drew McKenzie Smith and his team build the distillery, and as I said spirit started flowing last year in 2017. To date they have filled just over 800 casks. So how you may ask can I review their whisky - do I have a time machine? Well actually no I don't but thanks to @TheWhiskyWire and one of his famous @TweetTastings we've been able to try @LindoresAbbey New Make Spirit, Aqua Vitae and a 7 month old Cask Blend.

First up was the New Make Spirit as it comes of the stills at 73% ABV

My thoughts:
Appearance: Clear, oily, very clingy in the glass
Nose: bbq meats, loads of malt, damp hay, some tropical fruit notes.
Palate: getting lots of citrus here - lemons juice, more of the maltiness, damp hay. But the ABV definitely hits you - wow!







Next up was the Aqua Vitae at 40% ABV, this is distilled in pot stills and then infused with a blend of spices and herbs, including cleavers, lemon verbena, douglas fir and sweet cicely, which all grow amidst the grounds of the ancient Abbey.

My thoughts:
Appearance: Pale gold
Nose: Chinese spices, Five Spice, Cloves. A very spicy little number! There's some orchard fruit in here too. reminds me a little of clove studded oranges!
Palate: different from what the nose suggests: there's ginger spice here but also loads of sweet tropical pineapple and an odd toothpaste note!
Finish: Really strange -  unexpected bitter chocolate and  honey notes, it also quite drying - unusual for 40%




Final dram of the evening was a 7 month old Cask Blend from a combination of around 60% ex-bourbon, some STR and a little sherry butt at 60% ABV. You could almost hear the angels shouting "it's not ready yet, give it us back"!

My thoughts:
Appearance: Pale gold
Nose: Back to the NMS a little here - bbq meats, malt, damp hay but there's also some citrus and a hint of sherry? With water the nose loses some of the NMS notes, the damp hay is more prominent.
Palate: The ABV reveals itself as a very bitter dark chocolate, very drying as you'd expect for 60%, more of the tropical pineapple from the Aqua Vitae - interesting! Does taste older than 7 months though! With water the chocolate notes are less bitter but still very much there, some honey, vanilla and the maltiness.
This definitely shows promise, can't wait until the angels are done!




It was great to try the spirits, they showed great promise! Really liking the tropical notes. although I wasn't keen on the Aqua Vitae - too herby for my palate.

Thanks to @LindoresAbbey for the samples, @TheWhiskyWire for organising and my fellow tweeters for an enjoyable evening!