A few months ago I sold all but a few of my collection of whisky magazines. It was the first step in financing the Usquebaugh Society BenRiach 1976. The only ones I kept were the ones with recipes or travel guides that were appealing. Also some club magazines in which an article by yours truly was published are still in my collection.

As a bonus on top of the agreed upon price Alexander, from whiskysample.nl brought me this sample of Strathisla 25. I had tasted the 30 year old in the very first bottle share I ever did and was curious to find out what the slightly younger but still very well aged version was about.

There’s not much to say about the release. Not single cask or anything, just one of the regulars by G&M.

Sniff:
Pretty woody with a definite touch of sherried oak. My guess would be European, but that is what it is, a guess. Some wood spices too with a focus on the more savoury kind like nutmeg and ginger. Those are in the background compared to allspice, the wood, and dried peaches. Some chocolate and coffee maybe.

Sip:
This being a whisky at 40% I didn’t expect this to be a belter and alcohol wise it’s not. Flavour wise, though, quite something! It’s packed with wood, dry dried fruits, allspice, chocolate and peach.

Swallow:
The finish isn’t too long (again, the low ABV). It goes very gentle quickly and the flavours that remain are the slight hints of dried fruit and wood. Some raisins that I hadn’t picked up before.

A typical and good Strathisla. Not a stunner but a very delicious whisky and a few years ago it was pretty affordable too. Definetly worth the € 13.95 for a 6cl sample. Get that at whiskysample.nl