Strathisla Keepers of the Quaich

Keepers of the Quaich is an exclusive Scottish society for those who promote whisky culture. A quaich is a Gaelic cup used in ceremonies for welcoming or bidding farewell. The Keepers of the Quaich are serious about their organization, even having a magazine and their own special whisky releases. Having visited Chivas Regal's home, I had the great opportunity to sample one, specifically the Strathisla Keepers of the Quaich whisky. This spirit is bottled at 59.4% with an amber hue. On the nose: Hay. Dry grass. Heather. Earthy peat reminiscent of Orkney, orange peel. On the palate it's quite bitter and very spicy. A good description is an orange mixed with toffee, all under a generally bitter sweetness from the powerful intensity of this dram. The aftertaste is its strongest point. Very refined chocolate and a hint of saltiness. Overall, while not the best dram ever, it's certainly a very limited one. My rating is 81 out of 100.