Scotland, Speyside. Distillery operational. Owner: Pernod Ricard

Like Longmorn and Glen Grant, Strathisla was for a long time associated with the renowned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, whose bottlings released with the owners' consent were often confused with the distillery's own. It was also within their vaults that the character and aromatic profile of this first-class malt was forged. A generous and complex style characterized by first and second-fill sherry cask ageing which would become extremely popular among whisky enthusiasts. This identity was abundantly explored through the vintages offered by Gordon & MacPhail, the oldest of which dates back to 1937 (the “Licensed Bottling” white label and “Connoisseurs Choice” black label). In 2004, things changed. The distillery owner, the Chivas Brothers group (Pernod Ricard), took back control and began releasing small batch official bottlings of Strathisla in the ranges Cask Strength Edition and Distillery Reserve Collection.

A Strathisla distilled in 1965 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for Chun in 2011 after 45 years of maturation in a sherry cask (#3473). Gordon & MacPhail has for a long time been licensed to bottle Strathisla, with these bottlings acting as official bottlings. The same is true for many Speyside distilleries, including Linkwood, Glenlivet and Glen Grant. The label resembles old bottlings of Strathisla, although the bottle itself is different.