Darkness Inchfad (Loch Lomond) 13 years

Score: 82

The Darkness Inchfad 13 Year Old PX Finish is Loch Lomond’s heavier, peat‑leaning spirit pushed into rich, dessert‑like territory by Darkness’s signature small‑cask sherry finishing. Bottled at 50% ABV, non‑chill filtered and naturally coloured, it shows exactly what Darkness does well: take a characterful distillate and amplify it with an intense, flavour‑forward PX cask. Inchfad’s oily smoke, earthy weight, and burnt‑sugar depth meet thick raisin, fig, treacle, and dark chocolate from the PX, creating a bold, indulgent profile without losing the underlying distillery identity. In the tasting lineup, it placed second because it delivered power, richness, and personality,cbut didn’t quite match the sheer balance and clarity of the Decadent Drams 15. Tasters loved its smoky‑sherried intensity and the way the sweetness wrapped around the peat, yet some found it a touch heavier and more single‑direction compared to the winning bottle’s bright, multi‑layered fruit. It was the whisky with the biggest “wow” moments, but not the most complete. In a tight field, it became the runner‑up: muscular, flavour‑packed, and memorable, sitting confidently between the elegance of the Falls of Falloch and the precision of the Decadent Drams 15. *Club Notes* "Great nose body lacking finish long." "When Eve ate the apple she swished the juice in her mouth and spit this out. Fucking nectar of the Gods." "Mellow... wood... coffee... cigar... subtle smoke... malty... syrup...but also some sweet.. maybe port? Wine? Dark deep ! Very good. Im still warm... the warmth is moving through me... I am complete... time to die..." "Burnt dark sugar, oily, hint of peat, gritty crystalline fructose on the nose. Thick molasses, treacle, sherry, peat continues. Lingering Demerara sugar with grainy texture that folds into sweet peat surrounded with smoke."