One of the most picturesque Speyside distilleries - which certainly does look better on a sunny day. This Society offering comes from a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel.
Nose: Peaches and apricots with cream served with fluffy meringues scattered with grapes, gooseberries and melon balls. Clean cotton sheets are joined by candy canes and oaty breakfast cereal liberally submerged in milk. Water moves things away from the fresh and clean profile with wet soils and oily bung cloths together with omelette and egg custard. Less sunshine, more interesting weather patterns.
Taste: Poached pears and French crepes sit with ginger nut biscuits, cream-filled buns, baked brioche and a slathering of vanilla-forward crème patissiere. The mid-palate gradually introduces ex-bourbon influence with cereals, popcorn and a twist of pepper. Reduction adds sweetness and brightness – green apples, gooseberries and melons together with vines and chopped herbs.
Finish: Medium, cereals and stone fruits fade with chewy nougat.
A light and generally airy Strathisla which is well-balanced and well-defined. Water offers nuances which are worth exploring, though don’t necessarily follow the fresh and clean profile this offers straight out of the bottle.