Strathmill is quite a low-profile distillery, and apart from a few (great) 1974 releases, I’ve only tried a couple of younger versions. Here’s a 20 year old Strathmill bottled by The Maltman.
Strathmill 21 yo (50,5%, The Maltman 2012, bourbon cask)
Strathmill 21 yo (50,5%, The Maltman 2012, bourbon cask)Nose: quite clean and neutral. Grassy notes at first, then growing fruity notes (apple, melon) with some heather honey. Almonds and cashews. Needs some time to loose its peppery prickle but folds open nicely. Hints of pine wood.
Mouth: sweet and fruity at first (pear, yellow aisins), with some sweet grains and toffee but quickly growing more spicy (mainly pepper). Also a growing woody dryness with a dark chocolate bitterness.
Finish: medium long, with some spicy heat and oak.
A clean Strathmill with a malty core and a peppery heat. I like the nose best. Around € 110.
Score: 83/100