Strathisla 40 Years Old 1964 Licensed Bottling (G&M)

Gordon & MacPhail selected this Strathisla, a 40 year old from 1964 and bottled at 40%. Set in the old town of Keith on Speyside, Strathisla has distilled since 1786. 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. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Decades leave it deep and oxidative, candied fruit and beeswax with great age. 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. The make leans rich and fruity, fuller than the lighter Speyside style.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. The Oloroso brings dried fruit, fig and a nutty depth, and 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. A warming, fruity finish lingers. This is the single malt of Scotland's prettiest distillery.