A Scot on Scotch reviews a single cask, single malt from Inchgower Distillery. Part of the Auld Goonsy range from Global Whisky Ltd.
Global Whisky Ltd
Auld Goonsy is a range of bottlings from Global Whisky Ltd, an independent bottler based in Glasgow. Founded in 2017, Global Whisky specialises in small batch Scotch whisky releases. Under their brands, Auld Goonsy, Concept 8, and OLO, they seem to have released some really excellent drams.
Global Whisky first crossed my path at Glasgow’s Whisky Festival, around 2023. I must admit, however, that I lost touch with them after that. Until, that is, last year (2025), when their bottles started showing up on auction sites.
A search for more information brought me to a non-functioning website, and their social media accounts hadn’t been particularly active – there was only a single post on Instagram in the whole of 2025. Naturally, I began to fear the worst. It looked a lot like Global Whisky might have gone the way of the Norwegian Blue. It had ceased to be.
OLO and Auld Goonsy malts kept popping up on auctions, however, and we used an excellent Caol Ila at a Scottish Rogue tasting event last August. More recently, I picked up another bargain, this time, from Inchgower distillery in Speyside.
Inchgower
Inchgower Distillery lies just south of the seaside village of Buckie. It was established in 1871 and enjoyed moderate success before the owning company fell on hard times and was liquidated in 1903. The premises lay dormant until 1937, when it was purchased by Buckie Council, who resumed production and later transferred ownership to Arthur Bell & Sons.
From that moment onwards, Inchgower’s whisky became a key component in the Bell’s blend. Even today, with both Bell’s and the distillery owned by Diageo, it continues to supply spirit for the Bell’s brand, as well as other blends, like Johnnie Walker.
Inchgower’s relationship with blended Scotch has meant very little of the spirit has been bottled as a single malt, with owners Diageo offering a single expression, as part of their Flora & Fauna range.
The best way to sample the whisky of Inchgower, therefore, is through independent bottlers, who buy casks, either from the distillery itself or from cask brokers. Once acquired, the bottler will decide whether the whisky is ready to be bottled or needs more time in the cask. They may even decide to transfer the contents to another cask for an additional maturation period.
Auld Goonsy Inchgower 13-year-old Whisky Review
In this case, Global Whisky have bottled a 13-year-old Inchgower, matured in an American oak hogshead (likely refill bourbon) and finished in a 2nd fill oloroso sherry cask. It’s bottled at 58.6%.
Tasting notes: A fruity nose, with lemon curd, marmalade and mango chutney leading the way, before some subtle oak spice comes through. There’s a wee sherry influence there, but it’s gentle. Comes across as woodier on the palate. After a fruits and honey arrival, things turn spicy with lots of oak, some dried fruits, dark chocolate and chilli. Drying, charcoal finish with some residual sherry.
Thoughts: I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this dram. I picked it up at auction to throw into a tasting, more as a curiosity than anything else, but I’m absolutely loving it. The nose and palate are like mirror images. The former is fruits with subtle oak, the latter oak with subtle fruits. Really, really enjoyable and a testament to the benefits of refill casks. First-fill oloroso would have taken over, but the 2nd fill finish has worked wonders and allowed the flavour of the spirit and the initial cask to come through. Great stuff from an under-appreciated distillery. Hope the bottler sticks around, too.
Price: Currently available online for £75. I bought it at auction for £35, which is an absolute steal.
For more on Inchgower Distillery, visit here
For more on Auld Goonsy and Global Whisky, visit here
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