Strathisla The Distillery Reserve Collection 16 Years Old 2003

A distillery bottling of Strathisla, a 16 year old Speyside malt from 2003, drawn from cask 7352 and bottled at 62.6%. Just 828 bottles were filled. Strathisla, opened in 1786 in the Speyside town of Keith, is the home of Chivas Regal. Strathisla is the fruity heart of Chivas Regal, owned by Chivas Brothers since 1950.

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. Around two decades the malt gains a fuller honey and a dried fruit weight. The full bodied new make carries cask character well across long maturation. 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. Scarce as an official bottling, Strathisla was long bottled mainly by Gordon and MacPhail.

At 62.6%, undiluted, it is deep and honeyed. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with pear, honey and a buttery malt. The texture is rich and creamy, the fruit lifted by honey. The finish is deep, waxy and fruity. This is a rich, honeyed Speyside single malt.