Single malt whisky - tasting notes

27 Dec 2012

Strathmill 21 (The Maltman)

Posted by: Ruben In: Strathmill

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 MaltmanStrathmill 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

Strathmill 21 (The Maltman) 3 Ruben Luyten 2012-12-27
  • Luca

    Nice review as always Rube, but I’m thinking, aren’t indi bottlings in many cases getting more expensive than OBs? 110 for a 21 yo it’s actually a heavy price, it has to be a stunner and this seems no more than a good, honest malt…it costs more than a 21 yo Highland Park or Old Pulteney…

  • WhiskyNotes

    In some cases, you’re right. But I still think there are many well-priced indies out there, much cheaper than officials. For this Strathmill there are probably cheaper alternatives.

  • John

    Whiskybroker had a very good value 1974. Very nice it was too.

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  • WhiskyNotes: I meant that in an affirmative way: you absolutely wouldn't be tempted to think this was distilled on Islay, because it's clearly different.
  • StuartHighland: 'You would never think this was distilled on Islay'... that because it wasnt. It was distilled at Balblair, but matured in a cask previously used by a
  • WhiskyNotes: Thanks Sjoerd. Not that I'm not interested, but it's Glenflagler mixed with other malts so I'm afraid it's not an option to tick it off my list. Thank

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  • Glen Moray 1995 (Carn Mor)
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1256 notes by Ruben

WhiskyNotes - Ruben LuytenThis blog is my personal collection of impressions, written while searching for the ultimate single malt whisky.