Strathmill 24 (1993) (Cadenhead's Small Batch)

A 24-year-old selection for tasting number 2400. The aroma is sweet with malt and grain, some caramel, and faint vegetal and tar notes, plus a hint of hard-to-place fruit. It generally smells a bit young but pleasant. The initial sip reveals more wood and spices, indicating some age. The taste is not as sweet as anticipated, with maple syrup sweetness, woody maturity that's a bit flat, and spices like chili pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. Faint floral notes are present with the vanilla and white pepper. The finish offers vanilla and spices, with sweet malt notes overshadowed by bitter wood. Overall, it's a good, though not mind-blowing, dram, exhibiting qualities of both old and young scotch. It compares favorably to Longmorn 13 (2005) (Gordon & MacPhail), potentially surpassing it. However, it doesn't quite measure up to Deanston 19 (1994) (Cadenhead's), which is surprisingly more tropical and sweet, despite prior recollections of it being too harsh. This one might need another try before a final decision. The next day, the maturity is appreciated, but it still has an alcoholic bite and doesn't stand out significantly, reaffirming the initial score of 17.