Strathisla 34 Years Old 1985 Cask #1484 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Gordon & MacPhail selected this Strathisla, a 34 year old release from 1985, drawn from cask 1484 and bottled at 57.5%. Just 72 bottles were filled. Strathisla was first licensed in 1786 in the old town of Keith on Speyside; it is among the prettiest distilleries in Scotland. Short copper pot stills give the rich, full bodied make at its heart.

The spirit was made in small copper onion stills for a full bodied spirit, for a rich, fruity make of real depth. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. At this age it is rich and rounded, the fruit folded into a honeyed, waxy body. Dunnage warehousing on site gives a slow, humid maturation. The distillery is a centrepiece of the Malt Whisky Trail and the home of Chivas. Gordon and MacPhail have released Strathisla vintages reaching back to the 1930s and 1950s. Dunnage warehouses on site give a slow, humid maturation by the river.

At a natural 57.5% it is full and rich. Vanilla and a creamy note from the barrel, with honey, ripe pear and a nutty almond. The mouthfeel is buttery, the fruit carried on a honeyed body. Dried fruit and honey see out a long finish. This is the single malt of Scotland's prettiest distillery.