I found a wee sample of this in my stash and didn’t know I had it. I think I have to thank Govert, the regular Longmorn supplier, for it. I should be deeply ashamed of forgetting such things, I guess.

I wanted to write about the Book of Kells bottlings here, but then I looked closer at the label and found out it was an entirely different series of which I have never heard before. Great. This one was bottled for last year’s Limburg Whisky Fair, in The Dram Taker’s series and distilled in 1963, which makes it 48 years old. Stunning.

Nose:

Image from Whiskybase.

The sherry notes are lighter than expected. Further more it is a very old school whisky with light fruity notes but also shoe polish, leather and waxed furniture. Plums and pickled fruits are present too.

Taste:
The palate has a wee bit more sherry than I expected from the nose with quite some wood and wood spices. Leather, coffee and more and more fruit. Stone fruits to be exact, like peaches, juicy nectarines and apricots. Both dried and fresh.

Finish:
The boat load of fruit is still present, but the feints have a bit of a comeback too. Some chocolate is added to the mix, with furniture polish. Very nice and very rich.

This is exactly why I like old Strathisla. I don’t even think it’s the age that does all the tricks, but I expect old distilling regimes also do their bit. It’s quite feinty, but with all the sherry fruitiness going on it’s exactly right! Stunning stuff!

Strathisla 48, The Dram Taker’s, Gordon & MacPhail, 21-02-1963 – 24-03-2011, 51.8%, single cask #576, about € 300 when it was available.