A well aged Strathmill by independent bottler Woodrow’s of Edinburgh. Distilled in May 1991 and matured in a sherry hogshead before being re-racked into a refill hogshead. Bottled in May 2024 at 49.7% abv. This single cask 33 year old offers amazing value with a great depth of flavour. There’s a velvety texture with tobacco, citrus zest, sultanas and nutmeg on the palate. The finish reveals bitter orange peel, figs and red berry notes. A single cask whisky to be savoured and enjoyed.
Nose: Musky barrel bouquet contrasting with baked apples and honey.
Palate: A velvety texture with tobacco, citrus zest, sultanas and nutmeg.
Finish: Bitter orange peel, figs and red berries.
Light in character, Strathmill uses a long fermentation regime to help create fruitiness.
The distillery’s main production quirk comes in the form of a purifier pipe running from the lyne arm into the body of the spirit stills.
Like Glenlossie and Glen Spey, this adds a lightly oily character to the new make, here picked up almost as olive oil which mixes well with the lightly fruity/grassy notes.
Thanks to the River Isla, Keith has a long history of milling, both for meal and weaving (the town still has a kilt museum). Two of those old mill sites have since been converted to distilleries, Glen Keith and Strathmill.
Built in 1892, it was originally called Glenisla (with -Glenlivet suffixed). Its original owners sold it in 1895 to W&A Gilbey which was by then building its holdings in Scotch [see Glen Spey, Knockando]. As Gilbey moved through various incarnations so Strathmill became an integral part of the J&B family.
Its only official release is as part of the Flora & Fauna range.