Strathisla 1997/2022 - 25 yo - Artist #12

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A single Refill Hogshead brings together a quarter-century of maturation and this Strathisla’s fruity, floral and herb-led character. Distilled in 1997, the single malt matured for 25 years in cask number 78844 and was selected in 2022 by La Maison du Whisky for Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries. It was bottled at its cask strength of 50%. The cask yielded 269 bottles, each containing 0.7 litres; the whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

The edition pairs single-cask selection with a photographic view of the distillery. Its label features Mathéo Modol’s black-and-white photograph Slate Roof. The open-frame design of the black gift packaging evokes the presentation of a work of art.

Alongside juicy fruit and flowers, the whisky reveals candied, medicinal and root-like facets. Anise, camphor, star anise and gentian linger in the empty glass.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is fresh and delicate. Lilac, lilies and lily of the valley initially mingle with hay, straw, mint, lemon and vanilla. These develop into Williams pears, Golden Delicious apples, banana and star fruit. With air, rosemary, tarragon and marjoram emerge alongside lavender honey, cinnamon and ginger. Increasingly milky notes recall a rhubarb tart with milk cream.
• Palate: The palate opens with clarity and liveliness, showing intense floral notes of jasmine and iris before fresh fruit comes forward. White grapes bring juiciness and pleasant acidity. At mid-palate, vanilla, candied lemon and peat combine with a full mouthfeel. Freshly cut grass and sweet almonds appear towards the end.
• Finish: The long, light finish opens with liquorice, lemon, banana, pineapple, passion fruit and vanilla. Later, medicinal hints of ointment and mustard poultices appear alongside clover, alfalfa, white mint, cloves and fresh ginger. On exhaling, vanilla, cinnamon and the lemony freshness of the nose return.

Distillery/Bottler:

George Taylor and Alexander Milne founded Strathisla in 1786 under the name Milltown. The distillery stands beside the River Isla in Speyside. Following its acquisition by Chivas Brothers in 1950, it took the name Strathisla. Its single malt plays an important role in Chivas blends.

La Maison du Whisky is responsible for this independent bottling. Launched in 2011, the Artist series brings together individual single malts bottled at cask strength and contemporary art. For each collection, distillery, maturation, age and strength are considered when selecting the casks. Different artists create the labels; for Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries, Mathéo Modol explored Strathisla through photography.

Facts: