Whisky Review: Strathmill 13 Years Old 2004 Connoisseurs Choice
- Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
- Origin: Strathmill distillery
- Bottling: Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice
- ABV: 46%
- Cost: £74.95
Image courtesy of Gordon & MacPhail
What they say
Gordon & MacPhail Strathmill 13 Years Old 2004 Batch 18/020 (pdf)
Official tasting notes:
- Aroma: Fresh and vibrant: banana, pineapple, coconut, pear, and green apple combine and transform into delicate floral layers. With time, a creamy butterscotch undertone develops.
- Taste: A gentle mouth-warming pepper heat gently succumbs to deliciously juicy tropical fruits: watermelon, pineapple, and banana with highlights of lively orange zest twists.
- Finish: Drying cocoa powder and lingering toasted oak balance the fruity sweetness.
What I say
The first in a recent trio of samples I was sent from Gordon & MacPhail. Highlighting some of the variety in their 1st batch release of the revamped Connoisseurs Choice range. Luckily for me these samples all hailed from relatively under-sampled (by us) distilleries so I have little preconception or basis for distillery profiles.
The youngest (hence first sampled) was this expression distilled at Strathmill distillery in Speyside in 2004.
Matured in a trio of refill ex-bourbon barrels which were vatted together and reduced to 46% ABV for bottling, producing a batch of 990 bottles. Previous samplings from Strathmill have also included refill bourbon barrels.
My tasting notes:
- Appearance: Sauternes gold (6/20), numerous medium-sized tears leave long, medium-fine legs.
- Nose: Fresh and fruity on the nose with a little woody element also, white pepper spice, orchard fruits; crisp green apples, pear, floral and creamy with time a deep vanilla essence.
- Taste: Medium-bodied becomes creamy and full, a real fruit burst on the palate, apples, pears, melon, banana, kiwi and a touch of zesty grapefruit and touch of lime accent the citrus nature, vanilla fudge, butterscotch and oak wood.
- Finish: Long, sweet and zesty, spiced with white pepper and a touch of chilli.
Overall
A fruit burst of a whisky; delicious and juicy with hints of vanilla cream and butterscotch and spiced white oak wood.
Score 84/100
Shop for Strathmill 13 Years Old 2004 Connoisseurs Choice (opens The Whisky Exchange)
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Categories: Scotch Single Malt, Strathmill
