Chivas Regal Strathisla 12 Year Distillery Collection

The next stop on the tour is Strathisla. This Speyside single malt is somewhat uncommon. It's almost entirely supplied to Chivas Brothers for their primary blend component in Chivas Regal, and is rarely offered as an official distillery bottling. It's 40% ABV and appears to have added coloring, giving it a solid amber hue. I'm also quite sure it's chill filtered. A rather delicate nose with standard Speyside characteristics. Fruity: sweetened white peach tea, honeydew, green grapes, apple or pear or both, and perhaps some pineapple. Floral honey, a little vanilla and light toffee and caramel. Faint burnt oak and cereal malt. There was a brief hint of licorice but it vanished rapidly. I nosed this right after the second pour and detected a nail polish remover scent, but it dissipated quickly, so be sure to let it breathe. The palate was somewhat astringent initially but did possess a light sweetness. Dry oak/tannins with bitter dark chocolate. Light pepper and possibly some tart pineapple. It lacks complexity and is rather weak. A very thin and light mouthfeel with a slight oiliness. Dry. The finish is short to medium short. Bitter with oak and something akin to a metallic sensation that appeared and disappeared. It was more of a feeling than a genuine taste, if that makes any sense. I can comprehend why this is a blending whisky and not predominantly a single malt. It's too light and doesn't have sufficient character to stand on its own against the major players. Likely a high percentage of refill casks, with a decent blend of American and European oak, favoring the American side. The nose is pleasant enough, but the palate and finish are overly bitter and it loses its structure at the end. At least for around $40, it's not a significant dent in the whisky budget. Thanks to a friend for the generous sample. Rated 2.75. Cheers

I'm happily back from my doctor-mandated break tonight. I'm finally starting to feel somewhat like myself again after a rather long health scare. I'm going to attempt to continue this fantastic Scottish Distillery Tour by finishing off a couple of samples on this pleasant, cool Virginia evening. My welcome back drink of choice is a Speyside single malt from Strathisla. This is their 12-year-old bottling. This sample was kindly provided by a friend. Thanks, sir. This malt is mainly used as an ingredient in several Chivas Bros blended whiskies. This somewhat uncommon single malt version is a standard 40% ABV and clearly has coloring added. On the nose, there's your typical candied fruit and sweet sherry, and after I let it sit in the glencairn for about 10 minutes, I detected a nice hit of green apple and cinnamon spice. Like warm apple pie. The palate is almost identical: sherry, orchard fruits, and a hint of grandma's apple pie. Unfortunately, it's thin from start to finish with a finish that is short and uninspired, to say the least. There's no burn whatsoever, and the flavors linger and feel artificial. If this is how this malt tastes from the cask (after being diluted to the low ABV for blending), then it should really only be used in blends. There isn't much to recommend it. Even the $35-40 you'd have to spend on a bottle could probably be better allocated to a higher-quality single malt. Thanks again to a friend for the sample and the opportunity to check off another distillery on our ambitious tour. Note it down and move on. Cheers. Oh yeah, I'm thrilled to be back. Hopefully for good this time.

This is a whiskey I haven't heard much about; it hasn't been widely discussed nor have I seen it available, until now, thanks to a friend. A fruity aroma of apples and/or pears and peaches. Some floral notes of honeysuckle contribute to the fruity scents. A light caramel or toasted coconut adds to the mellow nose. Overall, a quite standard Speysider. The body has a thin viscosity and holds a slight brown sugar sweetness balanced by a white pepper spice. Oak tannins are present, providing dryness. I couldn't discern much more than that. The finish is somewhat short, with a bitter taste and dried ginger offering a small amount of zest. This is a simple Speyside whisky that might appeal to those transitioning from blends to Scotch. It's pleasant, but nothing that stands out or captivates. It's not a whisky to ponder deeply but would be suitable for large social gatherings. [Dry Glass: Sawdust][82/100][Tasted:7/7/17]

My fondness for Chivas Regal 12yo and 18yo stems from this "rare" whisky. I call it rare because the official distillery only releases this 12yo expression, reserving other expressions for Chivas Regal blends and independent bottlers. This distillery has a rich history, having survived a fire and an explosion (in 1876 and 1879). However, its past doesn't enhance this dram, which is a bit straightforward. It's bottled at 40% ABV and has a deep golden hue. The aroma is slightly fruity, with notes of green apples, oranges, vanilla cream, and honey. The palate presents three notes: hay, tobacco, and a bitter nutty finish that is quite brief. Overall, I rate this dram a 78 out of 100.

As part of our small sample sharing group, this is my second submission for round 2. For a 12-year-old, I anticipated more. Certainly, I didn't expect an extraordinary life-changing drink, but I did expect more from something aged 12 years in a sherry cask and originating from Speyside. This is like a Diet Coke with a fruit undertone. For the $40 I paid, it would have been better to use that money for something like Compass Box Great King Street. Skip this one... it's not worth the cost, or the impact on your health. (To my friends... I'm going to apologize in advance... this one isn't up to standard).

Prominent malt and cereal notes on the nose, along with honey, syruped peach, raisins, nutmeg, cinnamon, and candied orange. A subtle wood presence in the background. Sherry notes, rather common but pleasing. The palate is warm and spicy, with hazelnuts, citrus, honey, and butter biscuits. Pepper. Limited development or complexity, straightforward and simple. A fairly brief finish with nutmeg, pepper, and orange zest. A no-frills whisky that provides an unfussy yet enjoyable drink, ideal for sharing. Even without having tasted it, I suspect the new, lower-rated version has nothing to gain from comparison.