Whisky from Strathisla Distillery is still, even today, rare in single malt form. The distillery has long been a contributor to scotch whisky blends such as Chivas Regal.
However, whisky connoisseurs and fans of Strathisla know that once a single malt from Strathisla’s stills reaches maturity, it showcases a dazzling complexity.
One such example of this is the Strathisla 1965 Gordon & Macphail, bottled in 2004, the subject of this week’s Scotch Whisky Legends.
The Strathisla 1965 Gordon & Macphail, Bottled 2004
Strathisla single malt whisky remains a rarity. Despite being owned by Chivas Brothers, the whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, the output of the distillery is mostly reserved for the company’s Chivas Regal blends.
As such, most of the official single malt bottlings of Strathisla whisky were bottled under license by famed independent bottler, Gordon & Macphail. Beginning in 1948 and continuing until the present day, Gordon & Macphail bottled some impressive age statements from Strathisla. These include the recent 1987 33 Year Old as well as the fabled (and beautifully presented) 1953 Vintage from the Gordon & Macphail Private Collection.
The whisky that we are talking about today has a much more understated packaging than the Private Collection vintage. This Strathisla 1965 Gordon & Macphail was bottled in 2004 at 46% ABV. Whilst I cannot find an image of this bottle with the cardboard carton, I will assume that it had one initially, as did many G&M bottlings in this style (see Connoisseur’s Choice).
This understated bottling, in fact, contains 39 year old single malt whisky from Strathisla. Comments from whisky reviewers and tasters suggest that Strathisla whisky reaches new heights of flavor once it has been aged sufficiently. In fact, ScotchWhisky.com says: “Though widely used in blends – Chivas Regal in particular – it is seen as a tricky customer by blenders as it needs time to hit maturity when its full range of complexities is revealed.” This makes me wonder, then, why we do not see more of Strathisla as a single malt?
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Either way, this 39 Year Old is not something that is easy to find in any scotch whisky circles. Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun is in the minority for having been afforded the chance to sample this whisky.
Serge Valentin’s Tasting Notes on the Strathisla 1965 Gordon & Macphail, Bottled 2004
Serge Valentin tasted the Strathisla 1965 Gordon & Macphail in October 2005. Here are his thoughts:
“Colour: gold.
Nose: extraordinary attack on fresh coconut, pine resin again [as with the previously tasted 30 Year Old Strathisla], mastic, argan oil, lavender honey, macaroons… Absolutely superb! Notes of wax polish, propolis, getting quite smoky (white wood, pine). Keeps developing with beautiful notes of almond milk, walnut liquor and hints of diesel oil. A fantastic complexity, one step above the 30 yo – if that’s possible!
Mouth: ah, now it’s closer to the 30yo. Bold and rich, yet not lumpy at all, very woody but beautifully so. Lots of resins and propolis, pine needles and dried herbs, bitter oranges, mastic candies and olive oil. Bitter chocolate, strong honey, herbal sweets. Turkish delights, pistachios, walnut skin…
What a beauty! Notes of smoked tea, nougat, violet candies. An endless development! Long finish, very nicely dry again. Extremely good. 93 points.” – Serge Valentin, WhiskyFun.com, October 2005
Auction Prices (or a lack thereof…)
If you can find a record of this whisky having been sold at auction in the UK, please let me know. I have trawled the auction sites, and the earliest 1965 that I can find a concrete record of sale for was bottled in 2011. It seems, then, that this 2004 bottling has never sold at auction in the UK…rare indeed.
A Brief History of Strathisla Distillery
Strathisla Distillery, nestled in the Speyside town of Keith, is one of Scotland’s most historic whisky distilleries. Founded in 1786 by George Taylor and Alexander Milne under the name Milltown, it claims to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Highlands. (Bowmore Distillery might contest this, however.)
Strathisla’s early years were marked by financial struggles and changes in ownership. In the mid-19th century, the distillery was acquired by William Longmore, whose family expanded and modernized the facilities prompting a period of growth and stability. The distillery was renamed Milton in 1890.
Jimmy Barclay of Seagram purchased the distillery at auction in 1950 for £71,000. Subsequently renamed ‘Strathisla’, as we know it today, the distillery Strathisla became a crucial component in blended scotch whiskies such as Chivas Regal.
Today, Strathisla continues to thrive under the ownership of Pernod Ricard, which acquired Chivas Brothers in 2001. The distillery remains a popular destination for whisky enthusiasts, offering tours and tastings that highlight its rich heritage and artisanal production methods, as well as stunning architecture and scenery.