Strathmill 1991 21 Year Cask Strength (The Maltman)

Nose: When consumed neat, it's clean and refined with an elegant grassy/floral scent. Over time, subtle sweet fruit notes appear - red apples, rockmelon, and honeysuckle flowers. Further resting brings out more honey and a faint hint of leather. Adding water releases a hidden burst of woody notes - sawdust, pencil shavings, and oak barrels - along with cloves and stagnant flower-vase water. It also intensifies the leather. An interesting nose. Palate: The nose doesn't prepare you for the palate's full frontal assault. The initial taste is balanced but unusual, with sweet, astringent, fruity, dry, and spicy notes all vying for attention. As it develops, it becomes full and rounded, with slightly sour malt, 95% bitter chocolate, oak tannins, and hot, spiky spices (notably hot English mustard) coming forward. Adding water significantly softens the palate. Finish: Medium. Peppery, slightly sour, and finishing dry and bitter (but in a pleasant way). Once diluted, the finish becomes refreshingly dry and astringent with a touch of ale-like bitterness. When smelled neat, the nose on this whisky is mild and reserved, so much so that you might think it's lacking and weak. However, it needs time in the glass, and a rest of 20-30 minutes is well worth the effort. As it unfolds, the nose gains depth and character, becoming attractively leathery-floral in profile. However, adding water truly makes this shine, with everything previously held back being released and allowed to bloom. There's an alcohol sting on the palate that makes the harsh and spicy profile even more intense. Water works wonders for this whisky, transforming it into a much more interesting and accessible experience that becomes quite compelling as you acquire the taste. I'd strongly suggest a good splash of water and plenty of resting time. This is an unusual and challenging malt from a rarely seen distillery. It was distilled in 1991 and matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon cask, bottled in 2012 at 50.5% after a significant portion was lost to evaporation. It's interesting, and I recommend it to curious whisky enthusiasts, but I would not suggest it to beginners. "Above Average": 82/100 (3 stars)