Strathisla 1958 (G&M)

From Gordon & MacPhail comes this Strathisla from 1958 and bottled at 40%. Set in the Speyside town of Keith, Strathisla has distilled since 1786. Water comes from the Broomhill Spring, the distillery set on the River Isla at Keith.

Distilled in short copper pot stills on Broomhill Spring water, giving the honeyed, full bodied spirit at its heart. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Without an age statement, the malt is rich, fruity and rounded. A patient maturation suits the rich, fruity Strathisla character. Keith is one of Speyside's old whisky towns, north of the Cairngorms. 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. The make leans rich and fruity, fuller than the lighter Speyside style.

At an approachable 40% it is rich and balanced. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla runs under a honeyed, creamy fruitiness. A dried fruit and a gentle oak spice give it depth. A warming, fruity finish lingers. This is a fruity, full bodied Speysider from Keith.