
January 9, 2018

Strathmill young and Strathmill old

Not a big name, and even if I’ve already tried thirty of them (oh wow!), I’m sorry but I just couldn’t tell you about Strathmill’s main markers and characteristics. So let’s move on…

Strathmill 2004/2017 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseur’s Choice)

Colour: white wine. Nose: discreet, with some grass and some hay, some smoked herbs, then roots such as beets, turnips, and perhaps even carrots. Tofu? We’re not that far from miso soup… and god knows that I utterly love good miso soup. Mouth: it is good, with apples and citrons at first, notes of sweets (I remember some white round cherry-flavoured ones, but the name escapes me), then rather lime and cranberries. Really very fair. Finish: medium, fruity, rather citrusy. Comments: I liked the freshness and the approachability, this goes down extremely well and it’s simply very good. One to sip while watching something uncomplicated on Netflix – yes you won’t need to scratch your head, at all.
SGP:541 - 82 points.

Strathmill 1975/2017 (47.4%, Malts of Scotland for G&B Whisky Fest, cask #MOS 17047, 87 bottles)

This wee one was bottled for Ostende’s whisky festival, the one that was formerly known as Lindores, a.k.a. the terror of the shrimps. Most sadly, I couldn’t attend in 2017. Colour: gold. Nose: really very delicate and akin to an old chardonnay, with this buttery side, this marzipan, these yellow pollen-rich flowers, and these juicy vineyard peaches. Love the menthol and the eucalyptus (they often come together) that are starting to come out, as well as this soft porridge-banana combo. Mouth: very good! Starts citrusy and even rather nervous, goes on with zesty tropical fruits (passion fruits), and gets then more buttery, as well as more peppery. A little oil as well (grape pips) and then peppered blood oranges and green walnuts. Finish: medium, with good ginger and cinnamon. A little cardboard, perhaps. A few green tannins in the aftertaste. Comments: almost perfect, it’s just lacking a little precision/definition to reach 90 in my book.
SGP:561 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Strathmill I've tasted so far