Time for an additional superb oldie. Gordon & MacPhail launched lots of previous, semi-official Strathisla bottlings – simply verify the attractive 1977 E-book of Kells for TWE for example. The one in our glass in the present day is a 1972 classic, bottled in 2013.
It shocked me that TWE immediately had this on provide in 2021 if I bear in mind accurately. It appeared to be leftover inventory, however apparently they appeared to have lots of new data that’s nowhere to be discovered on the bottle, like cask numbers, cask sorts and such. I don’t know what occurred right here. Let’s simply take pleasure in.
Strathisla 40 yo 1972 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail 2013, first fill + refill sherry)
Nostril: begins in a properly dusty manner, blended with mulching leaves. Previous type sherry with raisins, gingerbread, cigar bins and dried natural notes. After some fifteen minutes it opens up and turns in the direction of orange liqueurs, stewed peaches and baked bananas. Floral honey. Darkish chocolate within the background. Nice nostril, nevertheless it wants time.
Mouth: one the one hand there’s nonetheless this mild sherry, with raisins, toffee, milk chocolate and purple fruit jam. Then again there’s a touch of tobacco juice, leafy oak and a natural bitterness that give away the excessive age. One drained cask and one more energizing cask, blended collectively? Attention-grabbing although. Additionally plums, darkish chocolate, orange peels and a delicate charred observe. Much less fruity than I hoped.
End: fairly lengthy, on mentholated notes, cedar, blood orange and a touch of chilly espresso.
The mixture of spherical sherry and these deeply fruity notes is simply nice. On the palate the excessive age shines by, leaving a barely skinny impression with a bitter edge. Not good however complicated and talkative. Nonetheless accessible from The Whisky Trade.
