Tasting two Strathmill

August 25, 2013

Tasting two Strathmill

Yet another distillery we’re seeing a little more new bottling of these days, thanks to the independent bottlers. Now, I wouldn’t claim I’ve got much to say about Strathmill, Emil…

Strathmill 21 yo (50.5%, The Maltman, bourbon cask, 2012)

Colour: gold. Nose: I wouldn’t say there’s much happening when you nose it neat, it’s a little middle-of-the-road, with a little vanilla, a little apple pie, touches of tea and a tiny-wee metallic touch. Although it tends to become a little more grassy/leathery after a few minutes. Right, seconds. So it’s ‘nice enough’. With water: the oak comes out more. Wet wood and a little dust. Maybe a notch musty. Mouth (neat): starts with sweet malt plus a little grenadine or maybe strawberry syrup and becomes then rather oakier, with some greenness and quite some nutmeg and ginger. Mustard. Good structure and body but it’s a rather narrow profile. With water: no changes or very little. Maybe more porridge and a little lemon. Sweet bread. Finish: medium, malty, with some white pepper and cinnamon. Black tea. Comments: no flaws whatsoever but it’s a little ‘in the middle of nowhere’. Simply good, very decent malt whisky in my opinion. A good example of a 80-points whisky in my book. SGP:341 - 80 points.

Strathmill 23 yo 1990/2013 (51.3%, Single Cask Collection, sherry butt)

Colour: gold. Nose: this is interesting, this one is ex-sherry while the 21 yo was ex-bourbon, and yet both whiskies are extremely similar when nosed neat. Maybe this one’s got a little more tobacco, but that’s pretty all. Water should help differentiate them. With water: not quite, they remain very similar. Maybe this one’s got a little more honeydew this time. The tobacco got louder as well (new pack of Camels, you know…) Soaked wood (touches). Mouth (neat): the spirit is well similar again but this one’s rounder, with an oilier mouth feel and more honey. Having said that, the spicy oak is there again, with the same nutmeg and ginger than in the 21yo. Rather more vanilla too. With water: it’s probably now that the sherry makes the difference, because of these dried fruits and this honey that shine through. But no miracle ;-). Finish: medium very close to the 21 again, with drying spices (cinnamon) and black tea. Comments: fair and good in my opinion. SGP:441 - 81 points.

Check the index of all Strathmill I've tasted so far