Strathisla 10 Years Old 2012 Cask #1883 (The Whisky Cellar)

Bottled by The Whisky Cellar, this Strathisla matured to 10 year old from 2012, drawn from cask 1883 and bottled at 53.4%. Only 254 bottles were released. Strathisla, founded in 1786 by Taylor and Milne in Keith, on the River Isla in Speyside, is the home of Chivas Regal. Founded as the Milltown distillery, it took the Strathisla name in the 19th century.

It was worked through short pot stills for a rich, fruity make, for the rich, fruity Speyside make Strathisla is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. At a youthful age the fruit is lively and the malt rich. Decades in oak build a waxy, honeyed depth over the fruity spirit. The distillery stands among gardens by the rushing River Isla. The malt is the fruity heart of the Chivas Regal blend, owned by Chivas Brothers since 1950. Water comes from the Broomhill Spring, the distillery set on the River Isla at Keith.

At a hearty 53.4% it carries real weight. Orchard fruit and a creamy honey sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. A baked apple and a warm ginger lift it. A fruity, gently spiced finish lingers long. This is a rich Speyside malt from the home of Chivas.