Strathisla 1970 Gordon & Macphail

Strathisla 12 Year Old (flat bottle)

I have a love/hate relationship with Speyside whiskies. Many of the ones I've tasted are not according to my tastes, but once in a while I stumble upon as true gem. Strathisla is one of them. The 12 year old is an expression with a near-perfect balance of smoke and smoothness. From its citrus nose to its palate of dried fruit and the smoothness of...

Score 85/100

Strathisla 13 Year Old 1998 Gordon & Macphail

This Gordon & Macphail bottling contains a young Strathisla, both age-wise and distillation year. It has a surprisingly bright color. The nose shows the typical fruitiness of Strathisla, but also has a metallic side, as if it was poured from a can. Some toffee and caramel on the sweet side. Hazelnuts. Coffee. Pleasant, but simple. Rather light...

Score 80/100

Strathisla 12 Year Old (flat bottle)

Strathisla is one of the oldest distilleries in the Highlands and has been continuously in production since 1786. The distillery had switched names multiple times in its early days, but in 1951 she regained her original name. Literally meaning "Valley of the river Isla". The company changed the packaging some time ago. The box in British...

Score 81/100

Strathisla 40 Year Old 1970 Alambic Classique

Alambic Classique is a German bottler (could have fooled me) that has quite some spirits in its range. Rum, Armagnac, Calvados, Cognac, liqueur, gin and – of course – whisky. They have bottled two Strathisla so far, both distilled in 1970 (my year of birth!). The first cask, 10421, was bottled in 2010 at the age of 40, while the second cask,...

Score 91/100