Strathisla 11 Year

Aroma: Gentle vanilla, orchard fruits, and blossoms like honeysuckle. Taste: A sweet start with honey and crisp apple. The middle is full of fruit and grain. It develops moderately, emphasizing sweeter malt, but a slight papery, cellulose taste disrupts the harmony. The feel is pleasant, with a smooth, buttery quality. Ending: Lasts a medium time. Sweet grain and vanilla shift to a sour note, yet a honey essence remains. Strathisla is often overlooked as a single malt, which is a shame. The distillery is known as the “Home of Chivas Regal,” with most of its output going into Chivas blends. However, they do offer special bottling distillery door single malts and independent bottlers sometimes release a Strathisla expression. For a long time, the main official bottling was a very pleasing 12 year old, but that was discontinued a few years back. Fortunately, this 11 year old is set for a broad release later this year. While quite similar to the former 12 year, it's not identical. The profile has slightly less intensity, seems less "honeyed," and I detected a faint papery, cardboard sensation on the palate. I think it's entirely bourbon-matured, while the previous 12 year included some sherry cask in its makeup. Nevertheless, it will be good to have an accessible Strathisla back on the market. Score: 82/100 (3.25 stars) - Above Average

During my recent visit to the Strathisla Distillery, a place I adore, I discovered an 11-year-old exclusive bottling that was quite mysterious to me. On the nose, abundant dried fruits. Almonds, nutmeg, hazelnut, floral. Very nutty. Vanilla & almonds. Nougat. The palate is predominantly floral. Plant roots, damp roses, almonds. Aftertaste is grassy. A burst of ginger; freshly cut grass. Overall, this was a highly enjoyable, slightly uncomplicated whisky, bottled at a pleasant 48% ABV. My rating is 88 out of 100.