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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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January 3, 2019 |
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Little duos, today Strathisla |
If anyone would have asked me, fifteen years ago, which malts would become more famous and asked for in the near future, I would probably have mentioned Strathisla amongst others. And yet, the name rather went in the opposite direction, don’t you think? Who’s talking about the lovely Strathisla these days? Yeah, us! |
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Strathisla-Glenlivet 20 yo 1997/2018 (53.6%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 228 bottles) 
Colour: pale gold. Nose: the cask wasn’t very active – no problems, mind you. So light vanilla, fruit salad, cut apples, barley syrup, cornflakes, some earthier honey, and a little tobacco. There. With water: a touch of wax, grass, and peach peels. Mouth (neat): rather on oranges, including bitter ones, and more barley syrup. A little cider as well, in this malt that remains pretty gentle altogether. With water: indeed, it’s gentle, fruity, malty. I’m not sure we could have written a whole novel about this good little Strathisla. Finish: a little short, barley-y, with greener fruits. Melon skin. Comments: indeed, a very good yet humble little dram that just won’t bother you. Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot (Thomas Moore).
SGP:541 - 82 points. |
Let’s see what we have on the S-shelves… |
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Strathisla 1989/2002 (61.3%, Blackadder, Raw Cask, sherry oak, cask #9411, 278 bottles)
Colour: white wine. Nose: a relatively sour one, rather on cider, porridge, and fresh bread. Some nice earthy touches as well. Doesn’t feel like 60%+. With water: a little linseed oil. Mouth (neat): good, solid fruitiness, right between lemons and green apples. A tighter Strathisla, without any honeyed or vanilla-ed hoopla. With water: good maltiness, fruits, brioche, and vanilla. That’s all, citizens. Finish: medium, gently malty once reduced, with good fruits. Comments: similar territories. Good pretty undemanding whisky.
SGP:551 - 82 points. |
Right, this like unfinished work, isn’t it… |
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Strathisla-Glenlivet 9 yo 1989/1999 (57.1%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, 300 bottles) 
Colour: gold. Nose: typical coffee plus malt plus apples, then verbena, menthol, fennel and liquorice. Unquestionably pleasant, this little beast that’s so typical of what Cadenhead were doing in those years. With water: lovely, earthier, and rather on carrot and turnip greens, fennel, sorrel.... All that is perfect. Mouth (neat): I’m dead sure the extra twenty years in glass did it much good. Perfect melons and peaches, with a lovely tangy and clean fruitiness. A very bright young malt, extremely seductive – and not quite young whisky that you could as well pour into your fuel tank, this time. I know you know what I mean. With water: perfect green fruits, aniseed, dill, and green melons. Superb rather naked distillate. Finish: long, clean, more citrusy. Pink grapefruits calling the shots. Comments: some very pure, racy young malt whisky.
SGP:651 - 87 points. |
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